Water → 3-Methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)butan-1-one
Reaction equation
[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Al+3].[C:5](Cl)(=[O:10])[CH2:6][CH:7]([CH3:9])[CH3:8].O.[C:13]1([CH3:19])[CH:18]=[CH:17][CH:16]=[CH:15][CH:14]=1>>[CH3:8][CH:7]([CH3:9])[CH2:6][C:5]([C:16]1[CH:17]=[CH:18][C:13]([CH3:19])=[CH:14][CH:15]=1)=[O:10]Participants
5
Procedure
Portionwise add aluminum trichloride (3.35 g, 25 mmol) to a solution of isovaleryl chloride (2 mL, 16.4 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (50 mL) at 0° C. Warm to room temperature and stir 12 h. Cool to 0° C. and slowly add cold water (500 mL). Extract with EtOAc, wash the organic phase with brine, dry over Na2SO4 and concentrate in vacuo to obtain the desired intermediate (2.8 g, 97%) as an orange oil suitable for use without additional purification. MS (APCI+) m/z: 176 (M+).