Benzaldehyde → Ccris 2231

Participants

Reaction Steps

50.1 g. (0.333 m) 4-methoxyacetophenone and 35.4 g (0.333 m) benzaldehyde were combined in a 500 ml Erlenmeyer flask, with the 4-methoxyacetophenone being previously melted. Then 80 ml 5N NaOH solution (appr.) (1.2 × 0.333 m) was added to the mixture. Approximately 40 ml absolute ethanol was added to the stirred mixture in small portions to keep the mixture homogeneous. It was let stir at room temperature overnight, and a solid white cake resulted. The solid was filtered, washed with water, and then recrystallized from methanol/water to give 72.3 g (91%) of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-one. 10 g (0.0420 m) of this compound and 160 mg Pd on C (10%) were combined with about 200 ml ethyl acetate and placed under 1 atm of hydrogen. Upon stirring, the mixture absorbed 950 ml H2 (calc. 940 ml) and stopped. The reaction mixture was filtered and the clear solution was concentrated to obtain 9.8 g (98%) of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenyl-1-propanone.

Provenance & Evidence