Hydrochloric Acid → 4-(4-Methoxybenzyl)benzyl alcohol

Reaction equation

B.[CH3:2][O:3][C:4]1[CH:19]=[CH:18][C:7]([CH2:8][C:9]2[CH:17]=[CH:16][C:12]([C:13](O)=[O:14])=[CH:11][CH:10]=2)=[CH:6][CH:5]=1.Cl>O1CCCC1>[CH3:2][O:3][C:4]1[CH:19]=[CH:18][C:7]([CH2:8][C:9]2[CH:17]=[CH:16][C:12]([CH2:13][OH:14])=[CH:11][CH:10]=2)=[CH:6][CH:5]=1

Participants

Procedure

A solution of 110 ml. (0.11 m) of 1 M boron hydride (BH3) in tetrahydrofuran was slowly added to a solution of 24.2 g. (0.10 m) of 4-(4-methoxybenzyl)benzoic acid in 110 ml. of tetrahydrofuran at 0° C. The addition was complete in 20 minutes and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for one hour. The reaction mixture was carefully acidified with hydrochloric acid and the solvent removed. The residue was partitioned between water and ether, and the ether layer was washed with aqueous sodium hydroxide, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to give 22.2 g. of 4-(4-methoxybenzyl)benzyl alcohol, m.p. 68°-72° C. when recrystallized from cyclohexane.