4-Methylbenzaldehyde → Methyl (2E)-3-(4-methylphenyl)-2-propenoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

2.0 g of methyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate and 720 mg of p-toluenealdehyde are dissolved in 10 ml of dichloromethane and stirred at room temperature for twelve hours. Then, 4 g of kieselguhr are added, and the solvent is removed in vacuo. The resulting residue is purified on silica gel with n-heptane:ethyl acetate=4:1 as eluent. 850 mg of methyl trans-3-p-tolylacrylate are obtained as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence