Hydrochloric Acid → 5-(Chloromethyl)-6-methylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of methylene chloride (130 L), concentrated HCl (130 L), and tetrabutylammonium bromide (1.61 Kg) was added 5-methylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole (10 Kg) followed by the slow addition of formaldehyde (14 L, 37 wt % in water). The mixture was stirred overnight. The organic layer was separated, dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated to an oil. Hexane (180 L) was added and the mixture heated to boiling. The hot hexane solution was decanted from a heavy oily residue and evaporated to give almost pure 5-chloromethyl-6-methylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole as a white solid. Recrystallization from hexane (50 L) gave 5-chloromethyl-6-methylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxole (80% recovery after recrystallization).

Provenance & Evidence