Hydrochloric Acid → 2-Hydroxymethyl-5-phenyl-benzofuran

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 5-phenyl-benzofuran-2-carboxylic acid 16 (2.1 g, 8.8 mmole) dissolved in THF (50 ml) was cooled to 5° C. in an ice bath, and LiAlH4 (0.67 g, 17.6 mmole) was added portionwise and stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hrs. The excess reagent was decomposed with an addition of 1M HCl, and the acidified mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed, dried, and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography to give about 1.22 g of 2-hydroxymethyl-5-phenyl-benzofuran 17, mp. 134–135° C.

Provenance & Evidence