Hexane → 2-Nonyloxybenzylalcohol

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-Hydroxybenzaldehyde (110 g), was alkylated by mixing this compound with 1-bromononane (180 g), anhydrous potassium carbonate and dimethylformamide (800 mL). This mixture was heated at 80° C. for 14 hours. Hexane and water were then added and the hexane extract was concentrated and the residue was distilled to yield the 2-nonyloxybenzaldehyde (210 g), bp 121° C. (0.3 mm Hg). A solution of 2-nonyloxybenzaldehyde prepared above (100 g) in ethanol (1000 mL) at 10° C. was reduced by treating with an excess of sodium borohydride (6 g) and after stirring the mixture for a further 15-20 min. at room temperature, the compound 2-nonyloxybenzylalcohol was isolated by extraction into hexane. Removal of the hexane in vacuo yielded the crude 2-nonyloxybenzylalcohol (98 g). The resulting 2-nonyloxybenzylalcohol was added to a mixture of triphenylphosphine hydrobromide (144 g) in acetonitrile (500 mL) and the resultant solution was heated at reflux for 14 hours. Removal of the solvents in vacuo and crystallization of the residue from a tetrahydrofuran/ethyl ether mixture gave the pure [[2-(nonyloxy)phenyl]methyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide (208 g).

Provenance & Evidence