Acetic Acid → (4-Methylbiphenyl-3-yl)methanol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

123 g (625 mmol) of 2-methyl-5-phenylbenzaldehyde was dissolved in a mixture of 1.1 L of tetrahydrofuran and 110 ml of water, and to the resulted solution was dropped, at 15 to 20° C., a solution prepared by dissolving 7.7 g (203 mmol) of sodium boron hydride in 70 ml of a 0.1 wt % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. After completion of dropping, the mixture was stirred for 4 hours at 15 to 20° C. To this reaction solution was dropped 10 g of glacial acetic acid at 20° C. or lower, and this was poured into ice water. The reaction solution was extracted with t-butyl methyl ether, the organic layer was washed with water, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, then, saturated saline, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, then, concentrated to obtain 121 of 2-methyl-5-phenylbenzyl alcohol.

Provenance & Evidence