A Novel Approach in Cinnamic Acid Synthesis: Direct Synthesis of Cinnamic Acids from Aromatic Aldehydes and Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids in the Presence of Boron Tribromide

Abstract

Cinnamic acids have been prepared in moderate to high yields by a new direct synthesis using aromatic aldehydes and aliphatic carboxylic acids, in the presence of boron tribromide as reagent, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP) and pyridine (Py) as bases and N-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (NMP) as solvent, at reflux (180-190°C) for 8-12 hours.

Introduction

Cinnamic acids compose a relatively large family of organic acids which appear to have antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitical activities. They are also used in macromolecular synthesis as very important building blocks for various classes of polymers, having attractive properties, especially a high photoreactivity due to the presence, in the main or side chains, of the cinnamoyl group, well known as photoresponsive unit. Polymers containing cinnamoyl moieties are used in a wide range of applications in emerging fields such as advanced microelectronics [1], photolithography [2], non-linear-optical materials [3], integrated circuit technology [4] and photocurable coatings [5].

For their use in perfume production, the food industry, pharmaceuticals, medicine and technical applications, cinnamic acids are synthesized on a commercial scale. A wide range of approaches are available, the most important being the Perkin reaction [6], the Claisen condensation [7], the Knoevenagel-Doebner condensation [8] and the Heck reaction [9]. Despite the great variety of wellknown and tried methods, the development of new general synthetic protocols for cinnamic acids is still an active field.

In this paper, we wish to report a protocol for a new direct route for cinnamic acid synthesis, starting from aromatic aldehydes and aliphatic carboxylic acids, in the presence of boron tribromide as reagent.

Results and Discussion

In a typical experimental procedure (the Perkin reaction) [10], cinnamic acids can be prepared from aromatic aldehydes and aliphatic carboxylic anhydrides in the presence of bases, particularly with sodium or potassium salts of the carboxylic acids corresponding to the anhydrides used in reactions as reagents. Thus, potassium acetate was used for the reaction between acetic anhydride and benzaldehyde at 180 °C, for 8 hours, affording cinnamic acid in 70-72% yield. Using sodium acetate instead of potassium acetate, the yields are lower under the same conditions [11]. It was also demonstrated that this reaction is not suitable when aliphatic aldehydes are employed [12].

Our first investigations were focused on using aliphatic carboxylic acids instead of aliphatic carboxylic anhydrides, in order to offer an alternative to classic methods. Unfortunately, the conclusion was negative, the synthesis does not take place.

By stepwise investigations, we established that the aliphatic carboxylic acids can yield cinnamic acids only in the presence of boron tribromide, under certain conditions. We assume that the reaction evolves through a reactive intermediate, namely triacylborate, which is obtained, in a first stage of the synthesis, from the reaction between the aliphatic carboxylic acid and boron tribromide. Afterwards, it reacts with the aromatic aldehyde used in the system, resulting in cinnamic acid.

This hypothesis was confirmed by our experimental results obtained by reacting acetic acid and boron tribromide, whereupon triacetyl borate was produced in situ, the product being identical to that prepared from boric acid and acetic anhydride according to the literature [13]. The resultant triacetyl borate was subsequently reacted with p-chlorobenzaldehyde, under similar conditions, giving the corresponding cinnamic acid in comparable (78%) yield. The main advantage of our method is the possibility of obtaining cinnamic acids directly in an one-pot synthesis, avoiding intermediary steps, namely the synthesis, isolation and purification of triacetyl borate. The presence of 4-DMAP and pyridine was needed for product formation to take place.

In this case, the high reactivity of triacyl borates can be explained by the presence of the methylene group of the aliphatic carboxylic acids, activated by the boron atom which is electronic deficient [14]. Thus, we have experimentally established that aliphatic carboxylic acids 1 react with aromatic aldehydes 2 in the presence of boron tribromide as reagent and 4-DMAP and Py as bases, in the molar ratio 5.45:1:1.1: 0.5: 1.5, giving cinnamic acids 3, as presented in Scheme 1.

Scheme 1.

Direct synthesis of cinnamic acids from aliphatic carboxylic acids and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of boron tribromide

A study on the reaction parameters, such as reagent stoichiometry, base, solvent, temperature, reaction time, aldehyde reactivity, etc. was carried out. With regards to the stoichiometry, the best molar ratio between 1 and 2 is 5.45:1, due to the fact that the triacyl borate synthesis is performed in an excess of aliphatic carboxylic acid (see Experimental Section). The molar ratio between 2 and boron tribromide is 1:1.1 and this resulys in good yields for the reaction. In the case of 2 and the bases 4-DMAP and Py, the molar ratio is 1:0.5:1.5 because the reaction gives higher yields under basic conditions (see Scheme 2).

Scheme 2.

Mechanism of cinnamic acids synthesis from aliphatic carboxylic acids and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of boron tribromide

Regarding the choice of the base, taking into account literature data [15] and our own previously reported experimental results [16,17], we concluded that 4-DMAP and Py is the most effective mixture of bases for this synthesis, compared to other basic media we tested.

Another conclusion of our study is that without a suitable solvent, this reaction is difficult to perform. Under these circumstances, we tested several solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and hexamethylphosphortriamide (HMPTA) (see Table 1). We have selected NMP as the solent of choice because it proved to be a good solvent for all products involved in synthesis, it is stable under the reaction conditions and has a convenient

Table 1.

Influence of solvent on yield in final product ^a

Experiment.	Solvent	Temperature (°C)	Yield (%) b
1	DMSO	160-170	35
2	DMF	140-150	27
3	HMPTA	160-170	21
4	NMP	180-190	80

^a) Experiments were performed on the reaction system corresponding to cinnamic acid 3a (see Scheme 1)

^b) After recrystallization

boiling point (202°C).

As for the reaction time and temperature, the syntheses necessitated high temperatures (reflux at 180-190°C) for 9-12 hours. (Table 2). At lower temperatures, the yields decreased. For example, the yield for the product 3a decreased from 80%, when the reaction was conducted at reflux for 9 h, to 47% when the reaction is performed at 145-150°C for 9 h.

Table 2.

Cinnamic acids prepared by direct synthesis with boron tribromide

Cinnamic acids a	Yield b (%)	Reaction time (hours)	M.p. c (°C)	Literature m.p. (°C)
3a	80	9	248-250	249-250 [18]
3b	78	9	176-177	175-177 [18]
3c	65	12	131-133	132-133 [19]
3d	53	12	173-175	173-175 [19]
3e	81	9	195-197	196-197 [21]
3f	72	10	105-107	106-107 [20]
3g	76	10	195-197	196-197 [20]

^a) The obtained cinnamic acids were identified by comparison of their m.p. and IR spectra with authentic samples

^b) Yields calculated on the aromatic aldehydes 1 employed

^c) After recrystallization

As presented in Table 2, we obtained cinnamic acids 3a-g in yields which ranged from 53 to 81%, depending on the reaction conditions and structure of the aldehydes 2. The cinnamic acid 3d was obtained in the lowest yield due to the presence of the methoxy (–OCH₃) group which has an electron donating effect. The cinnamic acids with electron withdrawing groups were obtained in good yields.

It is noticeable that, despite the fact that triacyl borate has three acyl groups, only one of them is reactive under these conditions. Our experimental data have proven that the yield of the main product decreases when the molar amount of BBr₃ is lower than the molar ratio given previously. On the basis of our own investigations, as well as on the basis of literature data [15], the mechanism shown in Scheme 2 can be proposed for this new direct synthesis.

The mechanism evolves in stages, as follows: first, the aliphatic carboxylic acid 1 reacts with boron tribromide and produces a stable intermediate A, the triacyl borate, which behaves chemically as a mixed anhydride [22]. This borate, in the presence of 4-DMAP, generates the reactive intermediate B which reacts with the aromatic aldehydes 2 by the known mechanism, yielding the cinnamic acids 3. The detailed mechanism of this reaction will be discussed in a separate communication.

Conclusions

We have shown that in the presence of boron tribromide, the reaction between an aromatic aldehyde and an aliphatic carboxylic acid in order to obtain cinnamic acids is possible under certain conditions, through a new direct synthesis. This novel approach allows the preparation of various cinnamic acids in good to high yields (up to 81%).

In contrast to classic methods (cf. Perkin reaction, etc.), our alternative uses aliphatic carboxylic acids instead of the corresponding anhydrides. The main advantage of the method we present is the possibility of obtaining cinnamic acids in an one-pot direct synthesis, avoiding intermediate steps.

Thanks to the high reactivity in basic medium (4-DMAP/Py) of the triacylborate intermediates formed in the course of the synthesis, boron tribromide appears to be a promising reagent for various direct reactions. We are currently working on other syntheses of compounds assisted by boron tribromide and on the mechanism in order to clarify certain aspects.

Experimental

General

IR spectra were recorded on a Specord M90 spectrophotometer (Carl Zeiss Jena), using the KBr pellet technique. Melting points were determined with a Gallenkamp hot-block point apparatus. All solvents and reagents were purchased from Fluka and were used, when necessary, after distillation.

Synthesis of triacetyl borate

A suspension of boric acid (6.2 g, 0.1 mole) in acetic anhydride (36.75 g, 0.36 mole) is slowly heated under stirring. The reaction takes place almost instantly and the solid is completely dissolved. When the reaction mixture is cooled with ice, then triacetyl borate precipitates as a white solid, which is filtered off, washed with anhydrous ether and dried under vacuum. The m.p. of the triacetyl borate was 120°C (lit. [13] m.p. 120-121°C).

Typical procedure: Synthesis of p-chlorocinnamic acid (3a)

Anhydrous acetic acid (6.3 mL, 0.1089 mole) is placed in a 100 mL three-necked Claisen flask equipped with mechanical stirrer, thermometer and water-cooled reflux condenser. Then boron tribromide (2.2 mL, 0.022 mole) in anhydrous benzene (5 mL) is added slowly over 30-40 min with stirring while the flask is cooled with ice. The solution obtained is stirred for one hour at room temperature and for 5-6 hours at 55-65°C with emission of hydrogen bromide. When the gas emission ceases a solution of triacetyl borate in acetic acid and benzene results.

After cooling to 20-30°C, 4-DMAP (1.3 g, 0.01 mole) is added under stirring to this solution, then pyridine (2.412 mL, 0.03 mole) and NMP (2mL) are added under the same conditions. After a few minutes, p-chlorobenzaldehyde (2.81g, 0.02 mole) is added. The system is stirred for 5 min, then the mechanical stirrer and the water-cooled reflux condenser are replaced by an air-cooled reflux condenser (30 cm long x 2.9 cm diameter), which is prolonged with a distillation set. The flask is heated at reflux, while benzene and acetic acid are removed by distillation, until the temperature of solution increases up to 180-190°C. After reaching this temperature, the heating is continued for 9 h (see Table 1). At the end of reaction, the obtained solution is treated with water (70-80 mL) and then with 20% NaOH solution to pH=9-10. From this solution, the unreacted p-chlorobenzaldehyde is distilled off with water under vacuum (30-40 mmHg), until the distillate coming over is clear. The final solution is diluted with water to a volume of 80-90 mL, cooled to room temperature under stirring and filtered. The filtrate is treated with 20% HCl solution to pH=1-2, at which point the p-chlorocinnamic acid product precipitates. After stirring under ice cooling (2-3 h), the product is filtered off, washed with cool water (15-20 mL) and dried to give 2.92 g of p-chlorocinnamic acid (80% yield). The melting point after recrystallization from water was 248-250°C. Anal. Calculated for C₉H₇ClO₂ (182.58): C, 59.20 %; H, 3.86 %; Cl, 19.41%. Found: C, 59.10 %; H, 3.67 %; Cl, 19.37%. The other cinnamic acids presented in Table 1 have been prepared under similar conditions.