p-Nitrophenyl3-bromo-2, 2-diethoxyropionate (NPBDP, 3) reacts with a variety of nucleophiles at the activated ester to afford the corresponding 3-bromo-2, 2- diethoxypropionylated derivatives. With bifunctional nucleophiles, propionylation can be followed by intramolecular cyclization to give cyclic products. The a-bromo ketone moiety of the propionylated derivative can be liberated by heating at 85 OC in 95% formic acid. The ...
