Sulfuric Acid → 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-dione

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To 9.80 mL of ethyl acetate (100 mmol) in 40 mL dry THF at room temperature was added 2.0 g of 60% sodium hydride (49.9 mmol), 7.50 g of 4′-methoxyacetophenone (49.9 mmol), 100.0 mg of 18-crown-6 (0.40 mmol), and 2 drops of ethanol. After 30 minutes, the reaction was refluxed for 1 h, and then 100 mL of dry THF was added. After an additional 1 h, 30 mL THF was added. After 1 h the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and 25 mL of 10% aqueous sulfuric acid was added. The product was extracted with diethyl ether. The ether extracts were dried with Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was purified via silica gel chromatography eluting with 4:1 hexane:ethyl acetate to give 5.8 g of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)butane-1,3-dione containing 30% starting material (via 1H NMR 42% yield).

Provenance & Evidence