Features of synthesis and structure of ethyl (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-3-hydroxy-(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)-propyl-2-enoate

The structure of key intermediates in the synthesis of fluoroquinolone antibiotics: diethyl (2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoyl)malonate and ethyl (2Z)-3-hydroxy-(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)prop-2-enoate was for first time studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ¹H, ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. In solution both the esters were shown to exist as a mixture of enol and ketone tautomeric forms with predominance of the latter. According to the XRD analysis, ethyl (2Z)-3-hydroxy-(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)prop-2-enoate in the solid state exists entirely in the enol form.