M-Cresol → 1-(Methoxymethoxy)-3-methylbenzene

Part A. Sodium hydride dispersion in mineral oil (5.05 g, 50% w/w, 105 mmol) was washed with hexane and dried under vacuum. DMF (100 mL) was added, the slurry was cooled to 0° C., and treated with a solution of m-cresol (10 mL, 95.6 mmol) in DMF (20 mL). The resulting mixture was allowed to stir for 1 h, then was treated with chloromethyl methyl ether (8.00 mL, 105 mmol) by syringe. The mixture was stirred overnight, then poured into ethyl acetate (200 mL). This was washed with water (3×200 mL) and brine (100 mL), and the aqueous phases were back-extracted in sequence with ethyl acetate. The extracts were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The oily product was purified by elution through a plug of silica gel with 10:90 ethyl acetate-hexane. Evaporation then afforded the pure product, 3-(methoxymethoxy)toluene, as an oil (13.93 g, 91.5 mmol, 96%). TLC RF 0.46 (10:90 ethyl acetate-hexane). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): d 7.17 (1H, t, J=7.7 Hz), 6.86-6.81 (3H, m), 5.17 (2H, s), 3.48 (3H, s), 2.33 (3H, s). MS (H2O-GC/MS): m/e 153 (60), 121 (100).