Water → 1-Benzofuran-2-Ylmethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-Benzofurancarbaldehyde (2.2 g, 15 mmol) was dissolved in 25 mL of methanol. To this solution was added sodium borohydride (0.28 g, 7.5 mmol) in small portions over a period of 20 minutes. Then 2 mL of water were added and the mixture was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (75 mL) and washed with water (3×75 mL), dried (MgSO4) and evaporated, providing 2.1 g of benzofuran-2-yl-methanol, in 95% yield; 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 2.03 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 1H), 4.77 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H), 7.19-7.32 (m, 2H), 7.45-7.50 (m, 1H), 7.53-7.57 (m, 1H).

Provenance & Evidence