Hydrochloric Acid → 5-Methoxy-1-phenyl-1-pentanone

To a solution of phenylmagnesium bromide (16.0 g, 88 mmol) in anhydrous diethylether (55 ml) under an atmosphere of nitrogen was dropwise added a solution of the above nitrile (10.0 g, 88 mmol) in anhydrous diethylether while the temperature was allowed to raise to reflux. The reaction mixture was heated at reflux for 5 h and then stirred at room temperature for 16 h. A 4N hydrochloric acid solution (50 ml) was carefully added and the mixture stirred at ambient temperature for 4 h. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase extracted with diethylether (2×50 ml). The combined organic phases were washed with 5% sodium hydrogencarbonate (25 ml) and dried (Na2SO4). The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue submitted to fractional distillation to give 9.1 g of 5-methoxy-1-phenyl-1-pentanone. B.p. 127°-130° C./5 mmHg.