Pentaerythritol → (1-Methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-4-yl)methanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Pentaerythritol (13.6 g, 0.1 mol), triethyl orthoacetate (16.22 g, 0.1 mol, 18.3 mL), pyridine p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS) (0.5 g, 2 mmol) and 100 mL of dioctyl phthalate were mixed in a 250 mL, round-bottom flask fitted with a regular distillation apparatus. The mixture was heated to 130°-140° C. and ethanol was slowly distilled. When the amount of ethanol was close to the theoretical value the pressure was reduced to <0.1 torr and the product was distilled in vacuo. The white product which distilled crystallized in the condenser to give 13.6-14.9 g of MHTBO. Yield: 85-93%. The compound can be recrystallized from toluene but can be used directly. Mp: 110°-112° C.

Provenance & Evidence