3-Methylcatechol → 4-Methyl-1,3-benzodioxole

Participants

Reaction Steps

400 g of methylene bromide and 50 g of tetrabutylammonium bromide are taken under reflux in a stirred apparatus and a solution of 400 ml of water, 130 g of sodium hydroxide and 200 g of 3-methylpyrocatechol are added dropwise in the course of 5 hours. At the end of the addition, the mixture is subsequently stirred for a further 2 hours, cooled and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic phase is dried and distilled on a column. After first runnings of unreacted methylene bromide, 175 g of 4-methyl-1,3-benzodioxole are obtained.

Provenance & Evidence