Acetone → Betulonal

Participants

Reaction Steps

Betulinol was placed in a thermostated reactor, and acetone, in an amount of 100-110 ml per gram of betulinol, was added with stirring. An oxidizing mixture of CrO3/H2SO4 (molar ratio of 2:3, respectively) was then slowly poured into the reactor 20 with stirring. The reaction mixture was brought to reflux and maintained at reflux for 2.5-3 hrs. The reaction mixture was then cooled and water was added, resulting in the formation of a sediment. The sediment was filtered and recrystallized from ethanol. The resulting solid contained 93-95% of betulonic aldehyde and melted at a temperature from 154-156° C. The yield of purified betulonic aldehyde was 65%.

Provenance & Evidence