Benzene → 3-Chloro-2-methylbiphenyl

Participants

Reaction Steps

Under a dry nitrogen atmosphere isoamyl nitrite (37 grams, 0.31 mole) was added to a stirred solution of 3-chloro-2-methylaniline (35 grams, 0.25 mole) in benzene (500 ml). The mixture was heated at reflux for 1.5 hours, then allowed to cool and stirred at 50° for approximately 18 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, then evaporated under reduced pressure to a red residue. The residue was distilled under reduced pressure to give a yellow oil (bp 115°-130°/0.9 mm). The pot residue was washed with chloroform and the distillate dissolved in chloroform. The chloroform fractions were combined, washed with 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid and evaporated to give 3-chloro-2-methyl[1,1'-biphenyl] as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence