Ethanone, 1-(3-phenoxyphenyl)- → 1-(3-Phenoxyphenyl)ethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

m-Phenoxyacetophenone is reduced with sodium borohydride to form alpha-(m-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl alcohol which is then reacted with phosphorus tribromide to form alpha-(m-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl bromide. This product is reacted with sodium cyanide under heat in dimethyl sulfoxide. Hydrolysis of the product with sodium hydroxide gives the desired alpha-(m-phenoxyphenyl)propionic acid. (For details, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,437).

Provenance & Evidence