4-Methylpyridine → 1-Phenyl-2-(4-pyridinyl)ethanone

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Lithium diisopropyl amide (16.9 mL, 1.5 M in cyclohexane, 25.4 mmol) was added to THF (40 mL) at −78° C. A solution of 4-picoline (2.50 mL, 25.4 mmol) in THF (30.0 mL) was added dropwise to the LDA solution. The dry ice bath was removed. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes, and cooled down to −78° C. A solution of N-methoxy-N-methylbenzamide (1) (5.00 g, 29.6 mmol) in THF (20.0 mL) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred overnight. The mixture was quenched with water, and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The pooled organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate. The mixture was filtered, and the solvent was removed under vacuum to give the crude product. The crude material was triturated with hot hexane, and filtered to give 1-phenyl-2-(pyridin-4-yl)ethanone (2) as a yellow solid (3.53 g, 17.9 mmol, 70% yield).

Provenance & Evidence