Ethylene Glycol → 1-(p-Chlorophenyl)cyclobutanecarboxylic acid

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Reaction Steps

1-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclobutane nitrile (5 g) was mixed with ethylene glycol (60 ml) and 40% w/w aqueous potassium hydroxide solution (80 ml) and refluxed under argon for 18 hours. The mixture was cooled, added to ice water and extracted with diethyl ether. The aqueous layer was acidified and the precipitate was filtered off, washed with water, dried and recrystallised from petroleum ether (b.p. 40-60°) to give the acid as white needles mp 88°-9°, yield 4.5 g (82%).

Provenance & Evidence