Heptanoic acid, 6-oxo-, methyl ester → Methyl 6-hydroxyheptanoate

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Reaction Steps

Put 10 g (63.2 mmol) 6-oxo-heptanoic acid methyl ester in 50 ml methanol. Add, in portions, 1.196 g (31.6 mmol) sodium borohydride. After the exothermic reaction has subsided, stir for a further 30 min under reflux. Then concentrate by evaporation. Take up the residue in water, acidify with 1 M hydrochloric acid and extract twice with dichloromethane. Dry the organic phases and concentrate by evaporation. 7.9 g (78.0% of theor.) of the target compound is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence