Ethanol → 4-Hexadecylaminocinnamic acid

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of ethyl p-aminocinnamate, one equivalent of 1-bromohexadecene, one equivalent of anhydrous potassium carbonate in hexamethylphosphoramide is heated for 20 hours at 60° C. The mixture is then cooled, diluted with water and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts are dried, filtered and evaporated to provide ethyl 4-hexadecylaminocinnamate. The ester is hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide in a 1:1 water:ethanol solution at steam bath temperature for 10 hours. The hot solution is then acidified with acetic acid, cooled, filtered and the precipitate is washed with water. Recrystallization from chloroform yields 4-hexadecylaminocinnamic acid.

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