Methanol → 2-Butyl-3,5-dimethylanisole

Participants

Reaction Steps

83 g. of 2-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-phenol are dissolved in 225 ml. of methanol. After the addition of 60 g. of potassium hydroxide in 25 ml. of water, the solution is treated at room temperature with 34.2 g. of methyl iodide. The mixture is heated to boiling under reflux conditions for 3 hours, then cooled, diluted with water and extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed with diluted sodium hydroxide solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. There is obtained 2-butyl-3,5-dimethyl-anisole, which is purified by absorption on silica gel, using hexane/methylene chloride 70:30 parts by volume as the eluent, before processing further.

Provenance & Evidence