Sulfuric Acid → Benzyl Alcohol

Participants

Reaction Steps

29.8 g (0.222 mole) of ethyl carbitol was added dropwise to a mixture consisting of 2.8 g (0.074 mole) of sodium borohydride, 5 g (0.037 mole) of N-methyl benzamide and 25 ml of xylene at 120° C. over two hours. Subsequently, the mixture was agitated at the same temperature for 40 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was neutralized with dilute sulfuric acid. As a result, N-methyl benzylamine was obtained in 67.5% yield and benzyl alcohol in 7.7% yield, respectively. 23.6% of N-methyl benzamide was remained unreactive.

Provenance & Evidence