Potassium Hydroxide → 15-Hydroxypentadecanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

15-pentadecanolactone (10 g, 42 mmols), potassium hydroxide (10 g, 0.18 mmols) and tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (1.34 g, 4.2 mmols) were dissolved in a mixed solvent of THF (100 ml) and water (30 ml), and heated under reflux for 12 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to evaporate THF, and the aqueous layer was made acidic (pH=1) and then extracted With ether, The organic layer was washed with water and saturated saline in that order, and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was recrystallized from acetone to obtain 10.4 g (yield: 97%) of 15-hydroxypentadecanoic acid as colorless needle-like crystals.

Provenance & Evidence