Formaldehyde → 2-Nitro-2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

100 g. (0.73 mole) of nitromethylbenzene, 131.5 g. (1.61 mole) of 37% formaldehyde and 1.8 g. of sodium carbonate monohydrate are placed in a 500 ml. beaker equipped with a mechanical stirrer. The mixture is stirred, the temperature rises to 38° C. and is maintained at 38° C. by using a cold water bath. After 1 1/2 hours, crystals begin to form. The mixture is diluted with 210 ml. of ice water and stirred at 10° C. for about 2 hours. The mixture is filtered and the filtrate washed with water. The damp cake is placed back in the beaker and 280 ml. of ice water is added. The mixture is stirred for 1 hour, filtered and air dried overnight. The solid is stirred with 250 ml. of toluene for about 1 hour at 10° C. and filtered, then washed with cold toluene and dried. The yield is 112.6 g. of nitrophenyldiol (78%), M.P. 96°-97.5° C.

Provenance & Evidence