Ammonia → 2-Phenylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentane

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-phenylbicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-2-yl acetate (2.7 g, 13.4 mol) in 50 mL of anhydrous ether was placed in a three-necked flask. The flask was cooled to −78° C., and 150 mL of liquid ammonia was added. To the stirring mixture was added sodium (0.62 g, 27.0 mmol) in small pieces over a period of 10 minutes. Stirring was continued until the blue color was discharged. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous ammonia chloride solution (5 mL), and the solvent was allowed to evaporate overnight. Pentane (40 mL) was added to the residue, and the solution was washed with 30 mL saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and then concentrated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (100% pentane) to give the desired compound as a colorless liquid (1.8 g, 12.5 mmol, yield: 93%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 7.40-7.21 (m, 5H), 3.48 (d, J=6.9 Hz, 1H), 2.81 (s, 2H), 2.20 (dd, J1=9.9 Hz, J2=2.7 Hz, 1H), 2.00 (d, J=2.1 Hz, 1H), 1:94-1.85 (m, 2H).

Provenance & Evidence