Sulfuric Acid → 3-(3-Methylphenyl)-2-propene-1-ol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

3-(3-Methylphenyl)acrylic acid (3.0 g) was dissolved in methanol (30 ml), concentrated sulfuric acid (0.5 ml) was added, and the mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 2.5 hr. The reaction mixture was concentrated, and the residue was washed with water. The obtained colorless oil was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (60 ml), 1M diisobutylaluminum hydride/toluene solution (38 ml) was added dropwise at −78° C., and the mixture was stirred as it was at −78° C. for 2 hr. Saturated Rochelle salt water, water and ethyl acetate were added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate) to give the object product (2.45 g) as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence