2-Chloroethanol → 4-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)-3-methylmandelic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 8.0 g (200 mmol) of sodium hydroxide in 15 ml of water is added dropwise over a period of one hour to a solution of 18.2 g (100 mmol) of 4-hydroxy-3-methylmandelic acid (Example 13), 4.0 g (100 mmol) of sodium hydroxide and 13.4 ml (200 mmol) of 2-chloroethanol in 60 ml water heated to 70° C. Another 6.7 ml (100 mmol) of 2-chloroethanol and 4.0 g (100 mmol) of sodium hydroxide in 10 ml of water are then added. After another 15 minutes, the reaction mixture is acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic phases are washed with water, combined, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated on a vacuum rotary evaporator. This gives 23.0 g (about 100%) of 4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3-methylmandelic acid as a yellowish resin (compound (203), Table 2).

Provenance & Evidence