Ethylene Glycol → Ethylene glycol monobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of benzonitrile (103 g) in ethylene glycol (310 g) was heated at reflux under substantially anhydrous conditions for 3 days. The reaction mixture was cooled and added to a mixture of ice and water (about 300 ml). The resulting mixture was extracted with ether (3×300 ml) and the combined ether extract back-washed with water (2×300 ml) and then with a saturated sodium chloride solution (300 ml). The ether solution was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The ether was evaporated and the residual oil distilled to give 108 g (65% of theoretical) of ethylene glycol monobenzoate, b.p. 132°-135° C./1.5 mm Hg.

Provenance & Evidence