Acetone → 4-Chloro-alpha,alpha-dimethylbenzeneethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4-chlorobenzyl chloride (165 g; 1.02 mole) in ether (500 ml) was added dropwise during one hour to magnesium (24.3 g; 1.00 mole) in a three-necked flask equipped with stirrer and reflux condenser. The spontaneous reflux was allowed to continue for another hour and the solution was cooled. Acetone (60.0 g, 1.30 mole) was added dropwise and the solution heated to reflux for three hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was poured out on ice (500 ml) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (92 ml). The phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with water, dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated in vacuum. The residual oil was fractionated affording 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-2-propanol (b.p. 123°-124° C./12 mm Hg; nD25 =1.5300; 128.5 g, 70% yield).

Provenance & Evidence