Benzaldehyde → 2-Hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanone

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of KCN (5 g) in water (35 mL) is added 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (27.2 g, 0.2 mole), benzaldehyde (21.2 g, 0.2 mole) and 95% ethanol (70 mL). The mixture is refluxed under nitrogen for 4.5 hours and the ethanol removed in vacuo. Water (200 mL) is added to the residue and then distilled off at reduced pressure (to remove remaining unreacted bezaldehyde). The procedure is repeated twice and the residual water azeotroped with ethanol. The crude product (56.3 g, orange semi-solid) is purified by flash-chromatography (on silica Merck-60, preabsorbed in dichloromethane-ethyl acetate and eluted with hexane-ethyl acetate 8:2) to yield a light yellow solid (20.1 g, 41.5%), m.p. 99°-101° C.

Provenance & Evidence