Veratrole → 4-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

11.4 g (0.09 mol) of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene are mixed with 3 g (0.03 mol) of succinic anhydride, and then, under stirring, the semisolid mass is added with 7.8 g (0.06 mol) of AlCl3 under a light nitrogen flow. After 24 hours at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere, 300 ml of ethyl ether are added. A precipitate is formed which is filtered and treated by cooling with 100 ml of HCl 6N, extracting several times with CH2Cl2 and washing with water. The organic solution, anhydrified with anhydrous sodium sulphate, is concentrated to dryness, obtaining a yellow solid which is crystallised by n-hexane/EtOAc giving 3 g of product. Yield 50%.

Provenance & Evidence