Phenol → 1,3-Diethyl 2-phenoxypropanedioate

Participants

Reaction Steps

22.1 g (160 mmol) of potassium carbonate were suspended in 30 ml of acetone, 7.5 g (80 mmol) of phenol in 100 ml of acetone were added, and the mixture was refluxed for 1 hour. 15.5 g (80 mmol) of diethyl 2-chloromalonate in 100 ml of acetone were subsequently added dropwise, the mixture was refluxed for 10 hours and evaporated in vacuo, and the residue was taken up in methylene chloride. The organic phase was washed with saturated NaHCO3 solution and saturated NaCl solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated. Column chromatography (silica gel, heptane/diethyl ether 2:1) of the residue gave 15.5 g (77% of theory) diethyl 2-phenoxymalonate as a colorless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence