Hydrochloric Acid → 4-(Chloromethyl)-2-(cyclopentyloxy)-1-methoxybenzene

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A 12 liter round bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer, internal thermometer, and a reflux condensor equipped with a nitrogen inlet was flushed with nitrogen. The flask was charged with 3-cyclopentyloxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (495 g, 2.2 mol, 1 equivalent) in a solution of toluene. To the vigorously stirred reaction at 22° C. was added concentrated hydrochloric acid (600 g, 2.75 equivalents). The reaction was maintained at 20 to 25° C. for 30 minutes. The top organic layer was isolated and the bottom acidic layer was discarded. To the top organic layer was charged a solution of 10% sodium bicarbonate (550 g, 0.65 mol, 0.36 equivalents) and t-butyl methyl ether (814 g). The contents of the flask were vigorously stirred, and allowed to settle. The product, 4-chloromethyl-2-cyclopentyloxy-1-methoxybenzene, was isolated as a solution in toluene and t-butyl methyl ether (96.8% solution yield). This was used directly in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence