3-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol → 3-(2-Propyn-1-yloxy)benzenemethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 20.0 L flange flask was charged with 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (97%, ex. Aldrich, 903 g, 7.28 mol, 1 eq.) in methanol (MeOH)(9.1 L, dried over 3 A molecular sieves) to give a clear solution, into which sodium methoxide (25% in methanol, ex. Aldrich, 1.746 L, 7.63 mol, 1.05 eq.) was slowly added with vigorous stirring. After stirring for 10 min. the propargyl chloride (70 wt % in toluene, ex. Aldrich, 542.6 g, 805 ml, 7.29 mol, 1 eq) was added slowly with vigorous stirring over a period of 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 40 h (isomantle set to 76° C. with an internal temp. of 64° C.). TLC-examination (10% MeOH in DCM) showed that the reaction was not complete. The reaction was nevertheless worked-up at this stage. The MeOH was removed by rotary evaporation, and the residue dissolved in DCM (10.2 L) to give a clear solution, which was washed with water (5.82 L×3), and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed in vacuo, to give the title compound (706 g, 60%) as an orange gum.

Provenance & Evidence