Hydrochloric Acid → 4-Benzoyldihydro-3H-furan-2-one

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3-benzoylpropionic acid (18 g, 101 mmol), potassium carbonate (10 g, 75 mmol), water (45 mL) and formaldehyde (36% in water, 7.8 mL, 101 mmol) is stirred at room temperature for 5 days, warmed to 30° C. and stirred for 3 additional days. To this mixture is added concentrated hydrochloric acid (10 mL) to pH 5.0, heated at 50° C. for 30 min. and cooled to room temperature. The mixture is extracted with chloroform (4×200 mL) and the combined organic extracts washed with sodium carbonate (10% in water, 3×100 mL). The solution is dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate is concentrated in vacuo to yield 4-benzoyl-dihydro-furan-2-one (12 g) as a colorless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence