Potassium Hydroxide → 4-Vinylphenol

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Reaction Steps

Into a 2 liter reaction flask equipped with cooling bath, heating mantle, electric stirrer, thermometer and addition funnel is placed 129 grams of paraacetoxy styrene produced according to Example IV(B) and a solution of 112 grams of potassium hydroxide in 1120 ml water. The resulting reaction mass is heated to 35°-40° C. until all the paraacetoxy styrene is consumed by the base. This takes approximately 45 minutes. The reaction mass is then cooled to 20°-25° C. and over a period of 0.5 hours, enough 10% aqueous acetic acid is added to the reaction mass to bring the pH to 6 (630 ml 10% aqueous acetic acid added). At this point, 75 grams of crystals precipitate. The crystals are washed with 150 ml water and air dried to yield food grade, substantially pure paravinyl phenol.

Provenance & Evidence