Synthesis
To a solution of tert-butyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate (0.67 g, 3.1 mmol) in dichloromethane (35 mL) was added carbon tetrabromide (CBr4, 2.06 g, 6.17 mmol) at -20 °C, followed by the slow dropwise addition of a solution of triphenylphosphine (PPh3, 1.70 g, 6.48 mmol) in dichloromethane (25 mL). The reaction mixture was maintained at -15 °C for 18 h, and subsequently brought to room temperature with continued stirring for 1.5 h. The reaction was carried out under reduced pressure. Upon completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexane) to afford the target product tert-butyl 2-(bromomethyl)morpholine-4-carboxylate 0.55 g in 63% yield, which was used directly in the subsequent reaction.
