Water → 2-(3,4-Dimethylphenyl)ethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Lithium aluminium hydride (0.4 g) was added in portions to a solution of methyl 3,4-dimethylphenylacetate (3.0 g--see Preparation 16) in anhydrous diethyl ether (50 ml). When the addition was complete, the mixture was heated under reflux for 1 hour then allowed to stand at room temperature for 16 hours. Water (0.5 ml) was carefully added dropwise followed by 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide (0.5 ml) and finally more water (2 ml). The resulting solid precipitate was filtered off and washed with diethyl ether (3×20 ml). The filtrate and washings were combined, dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colourless oil which was used directly--see Preparation 18).

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