Sodium Hydroxide → (3R)-2-(4-ethylphenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-methylbutanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

3.0 g of (3R)-ethyl 2-(4-ethylphenyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-methylbutanoate (about 88% pure, about 9.16 mmol; diastereomer mixture) were dissolved in a mixture of 12.4 ml each of methanol, THF and water, and 5.49 g (137.35 mmol) of sodium hydroxide were added a little at a time. The reaction mixture was stirred at 40° C. for 9 h. After cooling, the volatile solvents were substantially removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was diluted with water. The mixture was acidified by addition of hydrochloric acid, and the aqueous phase was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The combined organic phases were dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was dried under high vacuum. This gave 2.61 g of the title compound as a crude product which was not purified any further (diastereomer ratio about 9:1).

Provenance & Evidence