Glycidol → 3-(4-Nitrophenoxy)propane-1,2-diol

Participants

Reaction Steps

1-Nitrophenol (2.6 grams; 19 mmole) is added to a mixture of 2,3-epoxypropanol (1.16 g; 15.6 mmole), anhydrous methanol (10 ml.) and sodium methylate (1.0 g.). After five hours under reflux, the solvent is evaporated and the residue chromatographed on preparative silicic acid plates using chloroform-methanol (9:1) to yield 1,2-dihydroxy-3-(4-nitrophenyloxy)-propane which may be crystallized from chloroform-ethyl acetate. In a similar manner, 1,2-dihydroxy-4-(4-nitrophenyloxy)-butane is prepared.

Provenance & Evidence