Potassium Carbonate → Ibuprofen, (+-)-

Participants

Reaction Steps

Following the procedure of example 1, a mixture of 2 g of methyl (4-isobutylphenyl)acetate (EP 347,939), 16 ml of dimethyl carbonate and 2 g of K2CO3, in a 1:20:1.5 molar ratio, is reacted in autoclave at a temperature of 210° C. The reaction is completed within about 8 hours. The product, methyl α-(4-isobutylphenyl)propionate, is hydrolyzed to α-(4-isobutyl)propionic acid (Ibuprofen) as in the examples above. Yield (starting from the not methylated ester): 90%.

Provenance & Evidence