Phenetole → 1-Ethoxycyclohexa-1,4-diene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 59.5 g. of phenetole (ethyl phenyl ether) in 200 ml. of dry ether and 800 ml. of liquid ammonia which was distilled from sodium was placed in a 2 1. three necked flask fitted with a mechanical agitator, dry ice condenser and dropping funnel and cooled with a dry ice - ethyl alcohol bath. To this mixture was added 14.1 g. of lithium wire in small pieces. After the addition was complete, absolute ethyl alcohol (about 400 ml.) was added until the blue color disappeared. The resulting mixture was left in a good exhaust hood for the ammonia to evaporate. Water (200 ml.) was cautiously added to the resulting mixture and the precipitate filtered off. The organic layer was separated and the water layer extracted three times with 50 ml. of ether. The combined organic solutions were washed neutral with water and dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate. The solvent was removed by atmospheric distillation through a 37 cm. column packed with glass helices. There was produced 45 g. (75% of theory). This material analyzed as 86% 1-ethoxy-1,3-cyclohexadiene.

Provenance & Evidence