Phenol → 4-(3-methylpentan-3-yl)phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of phenol (396 g, 4.2 mol), 3-methyl-3-pentanol (230 g. 2.25 mol), 85% phosphoric acid (50 g, 0.43 mol) and benzene (1.5 liters) was refluxed and the azeotroped water was collected in a Dean Stark trap (53 ml). The reaction mixture was cooled and transferred to a separatory funnel. A small bottom layer was separated and the top (organic) layer was washed with 500 ml portions of water until the pH of the washes was 7 (neutral). The solvent was removed on a rotary evaporator. Distillation of the residual oil under vacuum gave the desired 4-(3-methylpent-3-yl)phenol: 365 g, 91% yield; bp 112° C. (1.0 mm); mol wt. 178 (ms); nmr, 0.68 (6H, t, J=8 2-methyls), 1.26 (3H, s, methyl), 1.4-2.0 (4H, m, --CH2 --), 6.28 (1H, s, hydroxyl), 6.8-7.3 (4H, m, aromatics); ir, 3260, 2980, 2940, 2890, 1615, 1600, 1515, 1466, 1380, 1250, 1190, 1120, 830 cm-1.

Provenance & Evidence