Ethanol → 2,4-D-ethyl

Participants

Reaction Steps

1.3 g (14 mmol) of H2SO4 were added to 15.0 g (68 mmol) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in 20 ml of ethanol, and the mixture was refluxed for 5 hours. The mixture was subsequently concentrated in vacuo, the residue was poured into 100 ml of ice-water, the organic phase was separated off, and the aqueous phase was extracted using ether. The combined organic phases were washed using 2N Na2CO3 solution and water, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. 8.9 g (53% of theory) of ethyl 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate were obtained as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence