Potassium Hydroxide → 4-{[1,1'-Biphenyl]-4-yl}butanoic acid

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Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl 4-(4-phenylphenyl)butanoate (21.0 g) and potassium hydroxide (9.65 g) in ethanol (50 ml) and water (50 ml) was heated under reflux for 2 hours. The resulting mixture was allowed to cool, diluted with water (150 ml), washed with ether (x2), acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ether. The extracts were washed with water, dried and concentrated to give crude 4-(4-phenylphenyl)butanoic acid [(3), 18.28 g] as a white solid, m.p. 111°-113° C. (D. H. Hey and R. Wilkinson, J. Chem. Soc., 1940, 1030, give a m.p. of 118°-119° C. for this acid).

Provenance & Evidence