Acetic Acid → Phenylglyoxal

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Add SeO2 (4.6 g; 0.042 mol; 1.0 equiv), acetic acid (1.2 mL; 0.021 mol; 0.5 equiv), water (1.5 mL; 0.083 mol; 2.0 equiv) in 1,4-dioxane (15 mL) and stir at 80° C. until the solution becomes clear. Cool the reaction to RT, add acetophenone (5.0 g; 0.042 mol; 1.0 equiv) and stir at 80° C. for 18 h. Cool the reaction to RT, filter through Celite®, wash the residue with EA, and dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Evaporate the organic layer, purify over 50 g silica using EA in hexane to produce the title compound (4.0 g, 72.7%). MS (ES+): m/z=135 (M+H)

Provenance & Evidence