3-Chloro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde → (3-Chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)methanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (156 g) in a mixture of ethanol (750 ml) and tetrahydrofuran (500 ml) was added sodium borohydride (25 g) under ice-cooling. After stirring at ambient temperature for 2 hours, the mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organic layer was washed with water, 1N-hydrochloric acid, water, aqueous sodium bicarbonate and brine, successively, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Evaporation of the solvent gave 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (164 g) as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence