Formic Acid → 2,2,4,5,6-Pentamethyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran

Participants

Reaction Steps

3,4,5-Trimethylphenol (5.0 g, 36.7 mmol) and 2-methyl-2-propenol (3.2 g, 44.0 mmol) were added to formic acid (50 ml). The mixture was heated under reflux for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with isopropyl ether, washed with water and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (hexane-isopropyl ether, 97:3) to obtain the desired compound (2.9 g, yield: 41.5%) as oil.

Provenance & Evidence