Acetic Acid → 3',4'-Dihydroxyacetophenone

Participants

Reaction Steps

400 ml of a mixture of 1:8 v/v glacial acetic acid in water was added in two portions to a stirred mixture of 35 g of 4-(chloroacetyl)catechol in 300 ml of ethanol. At 10-minute intervals, four 10 g portions of 90% zinc dust were added, the mixture being held below about 45° C. The mixture then was stirred for 2 hours at 30°-40° C. and allowed to stand over a weekend. The liquid phase was decanted and stripped to a quarter of its volume under reduced pressure. The residue was extracted with ether. The ether extract was washed with sodium bicarbonate solution. The solvent was evaporated. The solid residue was recrystallized from toluene to give 4-acetylcatechol (1A), mp: 118°-119° C.

Provenance & Evidence