Microwave Assisted Hydrolysis in the Synthesis of 5-(Bromomethylene)-3- (Hydroxymethyl)thiophen-2(5H)-one

Background: To carry out the hydrolysis of a bromomethylthiophenone to a hydroxymethylthiophenone, expensive silver triflate has to be used. We wanted to decrease the cost of this step. Methods: Microwave heating in dimethyl sulfoxide and water was used to perform the above mentioned hydrolysis. Results: The hydrolysis could be done in a scale up to one gram and the isolated yields were from 51 to 62%. Conclusion: The best conditions for the hydrolysis were microwave irradiation in water and dimethyl sulfoxide at 100°C. Although the yields in the reaction were moderate and only around 70% of the starting material was accounted for, are the reaction conditions very simple and the reagents very cost effective.