4-Methylbenzaldehyde → 2-(4-Methylphenyl)oxirane

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of trimethylsulfonium iodide (10.28 g, 50.37 mmol, 1.2 eq.) in DMSO (70 mL) was added sodium hydride 60% dispersion in oil (2.82 g, 70.5 mmol, 1.7 eq.) portionwise over min. and stirred for an hour at RT. A solution of 4-methylbenzaldehyde (5.0 g, 42.0 mmol, 1 eq.) in DMSO (25 mL) was added to the reaction mixture dropwise over 20 min. It was stirred at RT for 4 h. TLC was checked and the reaction mixture was poured in 150 mL water and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic extract was washed with water and brine. It was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum to afford 5.2 g of 2-p-tolyloxirane as product. 1H NMR (CDCl3, free base) δ (ppm) 7.2-7.1 (m, 4H), 3.81-3.8 (t, 1H), 3.2-3.1 (m, 1H), 2.6-2.5 (m, 1H), 2.4 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence