2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1,1'-(2-methoxy[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diyl) ester

The preparation of 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1,1'-(2-methoxy[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diyl) ester is as follows:1: Methacrylic acid (3.56 g, 41.5 mmol) and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (0.17 g, 1.4 mmol) is added to a suspension of 1b (3.0 g, 13.9 mmol) in 40 ml dichloromethane. The reaction mixture is treated dropwise at 0° C. with a solution of N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (6.44 g, 41.5 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 ml) and stirred for 20 h at room temperature. After removing solvent in vacuo, the oily residue is purified by silica gel chromatography with dichloromethane/ethyl acetate 20:1 as eluent. The obtained product is recrystallized from acetonitril to afford white crystals of 1 (2.1 g, mp. 105° C.).