Acetone → 3E,5E-Pseudoionone

Participants

Reaction Steps

500 g citral (75%) and 2008 g acetone were heated at reflux (50° - 60° C.) in the presence of 5 g lithium hydroxide monohydrate until 1% citral remained. The crude oil was neutralized with 8% aqueous phosphoric acid, stripped of acetone, and washed with water and aqueous sodium bicarbonate to give ann 85% molar yield of pseudoionone. The product contained 1% of isocitral aldol impurities as compared with 3% isocitral aldols in the prior art sodium hydroxide process.

Provenance & Evidence