1-Octanol → 2-Butenoic acid, octyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Octan-1-ol (221 g), crotonic acid (194 g), PTSA (6.4 g), and toluene (300 mL) were charged into a 2-L reaction flask fitted with a mechanical stirrer, a thermocouple, a Dean-Stark trap, and a condenser. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux at about 120-130° C. Water was removed azeotropically. The reaction was aged at reflux for about 7-8 hours until no more water evolved. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and quenched with water (400 mL). The organic layer was separated and subsequently washed with sodium carbonate (5%, 300 mL), and further fractional distilled to provide but-2-enoic acid octyl ester (273 g) with a boiling point of 123° C. at 11 mmHg.

Provenance & Evidence