Sodium Hydroxide → 4-Bromo-2-methoxyphenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A suspension of (20.7 g, 47.9 mmol, 1.0 eq) bis(2-methoxy-5-bromophenyl)carbonate in 250 ml methanol and 60 ml (120 mmol, 2.5 eq) of 2N NaOH was refluxed for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, concentrated to a volume of ca 100 ml, and poured 1 L of H2O. The pH was adjusted to 2 using 1N HCl. The acidic mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel, and extracted three times with ether. The ether extracts were combined and washed once with H2 O, once with brine, and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Filtration, concentration and drying afforded 19.0 g of a white solid, which was recrystallized from petroleum ether to yield 17.63 g, 91% yield, of white prisms.

Provenance & Evidence