2-(2-Phenylethoxy)acetic acid → 2-(2-Phenylethoxy)ethanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

() The 2-phenylethoxyacetic acid obtained according to the preceding paragraph was dissoled in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the solution was added dropwise over a period of 10 minutes to a stirred suspension, cooled in an ice-bath, of 1.62 g of lithium aluminum hydride in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 0.5 hour. The excess lithium aluminum hydride was destroyed by the addition of 1.6 ml of water, then 1.6 ml of 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and finally 5 ml of water. The inorganic solids were removed by filtration, washed well with diethyl ether and the filtrates were evaporated to give 6.50 g (92%) of 2-(2-phenylethoxy)ethanol in the form of an oil which was homogenous according to chromatography. This product can be distilled under reduced pressure; boiling point 140°-142° C./15 mm Hg.

Provenance & Evidence