Hydrochloric Acid → HCID 20277061, compound

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a well stirred solution of lithium aluminum hydride (0.5 part) in diethyl ether (5 volume parts) was added a solution of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(3'-ethoxycarbonylpropyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (formula I-2 wherein R=H3CO, n=2, in the form of ethyl ester) (0.78 part) in diethyl ether (10 volume parts) under cooling in ice-bath. After stirring at room temperature for 1 hour, the mixture was acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid. The diethyl ether layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with diethyl ether. The combined diethyl ether and extract were washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The diethyl ether was removed in vacuo to give 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(4'-hydroxybutyl)-hydroquinone (formula III-2 wherein R=H3CO, n=2, in the free form). A solution of the above product in diethyl ether was shaken with 16% aqueous ferric chloride (10 volume parts). The diethyl ether layer was separated, washed with water and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The residue upon removal of the solvent was subjected to chromatography on silica gel and eluted with chloroform to give 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(4'-hydroxybutyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (formula IV-2 wherein R=H3CO, n=2, in the free form) (0.52 part) as an orange oil.

Provenance & Evidence