m-Nitroacetophenone → alpha-Methyl-3-nitrobenzenemethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of sodium borohydride (0.4 g, 10 mmol) in ethanol (10 ml) was treated with m-nitroacetophenone (3.3 g, 20 mmol) at 20° C. for 20 mins. The solution was the diluted with aqueous potassium carbonate and extracted with chloroform. The extracts were dried (magnesium sulphate) and evaporated in vacuo to give 1-(m-nitrophenyl)ethanol as an oil (2.9 g, 90%);

Provenance & Evidence