Hydrochloric Acid → 4-Hydroxy-6-(4-trifluoromethylphenylthio)2-hexanone

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Reaction Steps

7.55 Grams of methyl acetoacetate were dissolved in 10 ml of water, and 9.1 g of a 30% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution were added thereto by drops while cooling the mixture to 35° C. or less. After having been stirred at 30°-35° C. for 3 hours, the mixture was adjusted to pH 7.5 with a concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. Thereafter, 0.32 g of ammonium formate and 1.61 g of tetrabutylammonium bromide were added thereto and then 54.0 g of a toluene solution containing 17.4% of 3-(4-trifluoromethylphenylthio)propanal were added thereto. The mixture was stirred at from 45°-50° C. for 10 hours and then at room temperature for 12 hours. After the mixture had been neutralized with a concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, the organic layer was separated, washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Removing the solvent from the layer under reduced pressure gave 13.90 g of crude 4-hydroxy-6-(4-trifluoromethylphenylthio)-2-hexanone (purity: 81.4%, yield: 77.5%).

Provenance & Evidence