Catechol → o-(1-Methoxyethoxy)-phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

110 parts by weight of pyrocatechol is suspended in 100 parts by weight of toluene. At +5° C. 64 parts by weight of vinyl methyl ether which has a temperature of -40° C. is poured in all at once and then 1 drop of concentrated hydrochloric acid is added. The whole is heated to about +20° C. while stirring, whereupon the reaction commences and the temperature of the contents of the flask rises to about 65° C. External cooling with ice-water may be applied if necessary. The whole is kept for half an hour at 65° C. and then 5 parts by weight of 2-normal caustic soda solution is added. The whole is cooled, and dried by means of sodium sulfate, and the solvent is evaporated in a rotary evaporator. The product is distilled in vacuo. The yield is 155 parts by weight. The boiling point is 85° to 90° C. at 0.5 mm.

Provenance & Evidence