Prepn. of 4-methoxyethyl phenol - from a 4-alkoxyphenyl bromide and a 2-methoxyethyl halide

phenol of formula (I) is prepd. by treating a 4-alkoxyphenyl bromide (II) with Mg to form the corresponding magnesium bromide (III) (where R is a gp. that can be eliminated by mineral or organic acid below 70 deg.C); reacting (III) with 2-methoxyethyl chloride, bromide, or iodide to give (IV) and treating this with acid to give (I). Process in which R is tetrahydropyranyl, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl or alpha alkyl ethoxymethyl, is pref. The prepn. of the magnesium bromide (III) is pref. effected in a mixed ether solvent, esp. diethyl ether and (THF). Reaction of (III) with the 2-methoxyethyl halide is effected in THF, and elimination of the gp. R is effected with an acid in an alcoholic medium. (I) are intermediates for the cardiovascular agent metoprolol. L'INVENTION SE RAPPORTE A UN PROCEDE DE PREPARATION DE (METHOXY-2 ETHYL)-4 PHENOL DE FORMULE:(CF DESSIN DANS BOPI)CARACTERISE EN CE QUE L'ON FAIT REAGIR UN BROMURE D'ALKYLOXY-4 PHENYL AVEC DU MAGNESIUM, PUIS EN CE QUE L'ON FAIT REAGIR LE BROMURE D'ALKYLOXY-4 PHENYLMAGNESIUM OBTENU AVEC UN HALOGENURE DE METHOXY-2 ETHYL POUR FORMER UN ETHER DU (METHOXY-2 ETHYL)-4 PHENOL QUE L'ON SCINDE AU MOYEN D'UN ACIDE MINERAL OU ORGANIQUE POUR FORMER LE (METHOXY-2 ETHYL)-4 PHENOL.LE PRODUIT PREPARE SELON L'INVENTION EST UN PRODUIT DE DEPART POUR LA SYNTHESE DE METOPROPOL.