Synthesis of R-(+)-Haloxyfop-methyl

R-(+)-haloxyfop-methyl was prepared through the etherifying between R-(+)-methyl-2-(4-hydrophenoxy) propionate and 2,3-dichloro-5-trifluromethyl-pyridine. Dilute methyl R-(+)-2-(4-hydrophenoxy) propionate with DMSO was added to 2,3-dichloro-5-trifluromethyl-pyridine in which tetrabutyl-ammonium bromide used as phase transfer catalyst and powdered anhydrous potassium carbonate used as bound acid reagent with the amount account for 4 times of total mass. The mixture was reacted for 37 h at room temperature, and the organic phase was separated and resulting products dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate while Et_2O was recycled by distillation; R-(+)-haloxyfop-methyl was thus obtained and identified by use of elementary analysis, IR, ~1 H NMR, GC-MS and polarimetry. The yield was 88% with [α]_D~(25)+24.3, e.e% of 76.9 and mass content of 94%.