Process for the preparation of ethyl 2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin-2-carboxylate

A process for the preparation of ethyl 2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]dioxin-2-carboxylate of Formula I,

• which comprises:
• a) reacting catechol with a base in a molar ratio of catechol to base in the range of about 1:1 to about 1:2 in a hydrocarbon solvent;
• b) removing the water by heating the reaction mixture at the reflux temperature of the solvent;
• c) adding polyethylene glycol as a phase transfer catalyst and 2,3-dibromopropionate to the reaction mixture and controlling the frothing by slowly adding alkali metal carbonate;
• d) stirring the resultant reaction mixture for a period of about 3 to about 10 hours at a temperature ranging from about 70 to about 150° C.;
• and
• e) filtering the reaction mixture and washing the filtrate followed by concentrating to obtain the desired product.