Water → Octyl phenyl ether

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 224 grams (3 mols) of phenol in the form of a 88% aqueous solution, 193 grams (1 mol) of 1-bromooctane, 30 grams of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide, 224 grams (3 mols) of potassium hydroxide pellets, 500 ml of water and 500 ml of toluene was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere while it was reflexing for a period of 16 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and the organic phase was washed with 500 ml, 0.5N sodium hydroxide to remove excess phenol. The toluene layer was washed with two 500 ml portions of water and the toluene was removed using a rotary evaporator. A quantitative yield of 98% pure octylphenyl ether was obtained based on gas chromotogrpahy and method of preparation.

Provenance & Evidence