Tetrahydrofuran → 1-(3-Methoxy-2-methylphenyl)ethanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-methyl-3-methoxybenzoic acid (10.0 g, 60.2 mmol) in thionyl chloride (50 ml) was heated at reflux for 1 h and then cooled and concentrated in vacuo. To the residue was added tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) and iron (III) acetylacetonate (638 mg, 1.8 mmol) and the solution was cooled to −20° C., before addition of methyl magnesium bromide (3M in diethyl ether, 22.1 ml, 66.2 mmol). After stirring for 15 min, the mixture was poured into saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution and extracted with dichloromethane. The combined extracts were washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo.

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