Methanol → cyclohexyl(hydroxy)acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 200 mL methanol were added 38.0 g mandelic-acid, 2.5 mL acetic acid, and 7.5 g rhodium on carbon (5%, Engelhard 5864). The mixture was sealed in an autoclave, purged with nitrogen, and then filled with hydrogen gas. Hydrogenation was carried out at room temperature for 8 hours at 1400 psi hydrogen. The reaction mixture was then removed from the autoclave and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and recrystallized from toluene. The colorless crystals were collected by filtration and dried under vacuum to give 31.8 g (80.5%) of racemic 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxyacetic acid. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ (ppm) 3.71 (d, 1H), 1.66-1.55 (m, 6H), 1.16-1.09 (m, 5H). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6): δ (ppm) 175.27, 74.19, 41.15, 28.86, 26.74, 25.84, 25.76, 25.57. IR (KBr): ν (cm−1) 3440, 2933, 2856, 1718, 1450, 1280, 1255, 1230, 1103. Anal. Calcd. for C8H14O3: C, 60.74; H, 8.92. Found: C, 61.12; H, 9.28. mp 135-136° C.

Provenance & Evidence