Diethyl Ether → P-Toluic Acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of Ceiv catalyst from Example 47 (0.08 g), sodium bromate (0.3 g) and 4-methylbenzyl alcohol (0.24 g, 2 mmol) in acetonitrile:water (1:1, 10 ml) was stirred at 80° C. for 40 h under an atmosphere of nitrogen. On cooling ether (70 ml) was added and the catalyst was filtered off. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ether (2×50 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (25 ml), dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate and concentrated to give 4-methylbenzoic acid as a white solid (0.26 g, 96%). M.p. 178° C., lit. 180-182° C.

Provenance & Evidence