Concise Synthesis of 1,3-Diacetoxy-2-[2′-(2′′,4′′-difluorophenyl)prop-2′-en-1′-yl]propane: An Intermediate for Posaconazole

A concise process of 1,3-diacetoxy-2-[2′-(2″,4″-difluorophenyl)prop-2′-en-1′-yl]propane has been developed. Diethyl malonate was C-alkylated with 2,3-dichloropropene and then the ester groups were reduced by LiAlH₄, followed by acylation to provide 2-(2′-chloroprop-2′-en-1′-yl)-1,3-diacetoxypropane. The chloropropene was finally coupled with 2,4-difluorophenylmagnesium bromide and catalyzed by Fe(acac)₃ to afford the title compound in good total yield.