Methanol → (3-Methoxy-2-methylpropyl)benzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

220 ml (1.9 mole) of KH (35% in oil) were placed, under a N2 -atmosphere, into a 4.5 l reactor and washed 4 times with pentane, in order to remove all traces of oil. 1.5 l of dry tetrahydrofurane were added before the dropwise addition of a solution of 259 g (1.73 mole) of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-phenylpropane and 500 ml of dry tetrahydrofurane. The reaction was stirred for 15 hours at room temperature. Then 285 g (2.01 mole) of methyl iodide were added dropwise over a period of 2 hours, and stirring was continued at room temperature for another 2 hours. A possible excess of KH was hydrolyzed by adding 50 ml of methanol, then the reaction mixture was poured on ice. The product was taken up in ether, which was washed 3 times with a saturated NH4Cl solution and then with brine to neutrality. After drying over Na2SO4, the solution was filtered, concentrated and then distilled over a Vigreux-type column (boiling point: 100° C. at 5×102Pa).

Provenance & Evidence