Ethylene Glycol → Ethylene glycol monobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of benzonitrile (103g) in ethylene glycol (310g) was heated at reflux under substantially anhydrous conditions for 3 days. The reaction mixture was cooled and added to a mixture of ice and water (about 300ml). The resulting mixture was extracted with ether (3×300ml) and the combined ether extract back-washed with water (2×300ml) and then with a saturated sodium chloride solution (300ml). The ether solution was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was evaporated and the residual oil distilled to give 108g (65% of theoretical) of ethylene glycol monobenzoate, b.p. 132°-135° C./1.5 mm Hg.

Provenance & Evidence