Sulfuric Acid → Benzyl Alcohol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

10.7 g (0.08 mole) of ethyl carbitol was added dropwise to a mixture consisting of 1.5 g (0.04 mole) of sodium borohydride and 15 ml of xylene at 120° C. for 1.5 hours. The mixture was agitated at 120° C. for one hour. A mixture consisting of 3 g (0.02 mole) of N,N-dimethyl benzamide and 10 ml of xylene was added dropwise to the mixture over 0.5 hours. Subsequently, the resulting mixture was agitated at 120° C. for 20 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was neutralized with dilute sulfuric acid. As a result, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine was obtained in 51% yield and benzyl alcohol in 47% yield, respectively.

Provenance & Evidence