Butyl bromide → (E)-4-butoxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

4.16 g (20.0 mmol) ferulic acid methyl ester was dissolved in 115 ml 2-butanone. 2.09 ml (22.0 mmol) n-butyl bromide and 11.06 g (80 mmol) potassium carbonate were added. The reaction suspension was then heated at reflux temperature for 20 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered. The filtrate was concentrated by evaporation. The crude product was recrystallised from 42 ml isopropyl alcohol and yielded 4.85 g (92%) methyl (2E)-3-(4-butoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoate as white crystals.

Provenance & Evidence