An efficient protocol for synthesis of 4-methoxy cinnamate in ionic liquid

Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

E-mail : mjzhangtju@163.com Fax : 86-022-27403475

Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering College, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China

Manuscript received online 18 April 2012, revised 08 June 2012, accepted 13 June 2012

Synthesis of 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxy cinnamate was carried out efficiently using palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction of 4-bromoanisole and 2-ethylhexylacrylate in tetrabutyl ammonium bromide-based Ionic liquid. The ionic liquid was used as a cost-effective reaction medium and the catalyst in it is stable and can be recycled for at least four times without significant loss in activity.