Acetone → Rac.-(e)-2-chloro-4-[1-hydroxy-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]benzoic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium borohydride (25 mg, 0.66 mmol) was added to a solution of (E)-2-chloro-4-[3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxoprop-2-en-1-yl]benzoic acid methyl ester (Example 91; 316 mg, 1 mmol) in methanol (3 mL). The solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 h, then acetone (1 mL) was added and the solution was stirred for a further 10 min. The solvent was evaporated, ethyl acetate (15 mL) was added and the solution was washed with 0.5N hydrochloric acid solution (10 mL) and brine. Each of the aqueous layers was extracted in turn with ethyl acetate (10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried (MgSO4), filtered, evaporated and the resulting solid was triturated with diethyl ether to furnish rac.-(E)-2-chloro-4-[1-hydroxy-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-yl]benzoic acid methyl ester (310 mg, 97% yield) as a colorless solid.

Provenance & Evidence