Hydroquinone → HCID 178516562, compound

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 54.4 g. of 8-(2-furyl)-8-hydroxy-2-phenylthiooctanoic acid in 815 ml. of glyme and 610 ml. of water is added successively 0.5 g. of hydroquinone, 12.0 g. of sodium bicarbonate and 122 ml. of 90% formic acid. The resulting solution is heated at reflux temperature for 24 hours, cooled to 50° C. to produce a mixture of the 3-hydroxy and 4-hydroxy isomers. This is then treated dropwise with 40 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid during 15 minutes. The resulting solution is refluxed for 18 hours, cooled, diluted with ethyl acetate and then saturated with sodium chloride. The organic layer is separated, washed with brine, dried and concentrated. The residue is subjected to chromatography on silica gel with chloroform progressively enriched in ether, giving 13.0 g. of the product as an oil, identified by its PMRδ4.94 (1, broad s, CHOH).

Provenance & Evidence