Hydroquinone → 7-Methylthio-3,7-dimethyloctan-1-ol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 4 g. of citronellol (3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-1-ol), 0.490 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid and 0.290 g. of hydroquinone is placed in a stainles steel screw cap bomb having an internal volume of 45 ml. The bomb is cooled in dry ice. Methyl mercaptan (9 g.) is introduced directly into the bomb through the valve head. The bomb is sealed, left overnight at room temperature and then heated to 220° in an oil bath for about 72 hours. After cooling in dry ice, the bomb valve is opened and the reaction mixture is carefully poured into 5% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Ether is added and the organic layer is separated, washed with 5% NaOH, 5% HCl and water, dired over calcium sulfate and concentrated with vacuo to yield 7-methylthio-3,7-dimethyloctan-1-ol.

Provenance & Evidence