Formaldehyde → Ethyl 2-phenylacrylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

94 g of ethyl phenylacetate (methyl ester content 0.01%) were stirred in 300 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone with 120 g of potassium carbonate and 25 g of paraformaldehyde at 75 to 80° C. for 1.5 h. After cooling, 150 ml of water were added, and the aqueous phase was separated off. The N-methylpyrrolidone phase was extracted twice with 75 ml of diisopropyl ether each time. The combined diisopropyl ether phases were washed with 50 ml of water and concentrated in vacuo. 58 g of product were obtained, corresponding to 54 g of ethyl atropate (53% of theory) with a methyl atropate content of 0.03%.

Provenance & Evidence