Ethanol → 3-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-propionic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A three neck, one liter round bottom flask equipped with condenser, thermometer, nitrogen line and magnetic stirrer was charged with Z-3-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-acrylic acid (103, 2.28 g, 6.3 mmol), ethanol (104 mL), palladium black (101.1 mg) and ammonium formate (1.608 g, 25.5 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to 80° C. for 4 hours. An aliquot was taken and TLC (solvent system was 20% ethyl acetate in hexanes with an acetic acid spike) showed absence of starting material. The solution was cooled to room temperature and vacuum filtered using a glass frit funnel. The solution was concentrated by rotary evaporation and high vaccum, yielding 3-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-propionic acid (2.83 g) 105.

Provenance & Evidence