Potassium Hydroxide → 3-(4-i-Butylphenylthio)-4-ketocyclohexane acetic acid ethyl ester

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Reaction Steps

31.4 G. of 4-i-butylthiophenol and a solution of 10.6 g. of 85% potassium hydroxide in 300 ml. of ethanol were each placed in a 3 liter three-necked flask, provided with a condenser, nitrogen inlet, dropping funnel and stirrer. The solution was brought to reflux and a solution of 49.5 g. of 3-bromo-4-ketocyclohexaneacetic acid ethyl ester in 500 ml. of ethanol was added over a period of one hour to the refluxing solution. After the addition, the solution was stirred at reflux for one hour, cooled to room temperature, and filtered to remove the potassium bromide. After removal of the ethanol in vacuo (steam bath, rotary evaporator), 300 ml. of water was added to the residue, the product was extracted three times with 200 ml. of ether and the ether extract dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After removal of ether from a steam bath at atmospheric pressure, the residue was distilled in vacuo. A yield of 42.5 g. of 3-(4-i-butylphenylthio)-4-ketocyclohexane acetic acid ethyl ester was obtained, b.p. 205-220/2.0 mm.

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