Diethyl Ether → 5,8-Dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxane

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 3.00 g of 3,6-dimethylcatechol and 6.15 g of potassium carbonate in 35 mL of ethylene glycol is added 3.74 mL of dibromoethane. A reflux condenser is attached and the mixture heated in an oil bath to 120° C. for 4 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool to room temperature and then is distributed between 100 mL of saturated potassium carbonate solution and 200 mL of ether. The ether layer is dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a red liquid, which is purified by chromatography on silica gel to afford 2.90 g of 5,8-dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxane as a light yellow liquid.

Provenance & Evidence