Sodium Carbonate → 3-(tert-Butyl)cyclohexanone

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Reaction Steps

300 g (2 mol) of 3-tert.butylphenol are hydrogenated in the presence of 3 g of palladium-on-active charcoal 5% and 3 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate at 0.15-0.3 bar hydrogen over-pressure and 115° C. In an autoclave for 21 hours. The mixture is then filtered over Celite. The Celite is washed with ether and the solution is evaporated. In this manner there are obtained 310.8 g of crude product, namely 1.5% trans-tert.butylcyclohexanol, 3.5% cis-tert.butylcyclohexanol, 86% 3-tert.butylcyclohexanone and 7.6% 3-tert.butylphenol. This product can be purified by distillation. There are obtained 232 g (75%) of 3-tert.butylcyclohexanone, b.p. 75°-76° C., 2 mbar (olfactorily acceptable, purity 94%) in addition to 11.3 g (3.6%) of impure material (purity 92%).

Provenance & Evidence