Water → HCID 20394444, compound

Participants

Reaction Steps

A suspension of 91 g of α-ethyl-4-methyl-cinnamic acid in 1.5 liters of methyl-isobutyl-carbinol is added dropwise within one hour to 100 g of sodium in 250 cc of toluene at 130° while stirring well. After a further hour, sodium is no longer present and the mixture is cooled and 500 cc of water are carefully added thereto. The aqueous phase is separated and the methyl-isobutyl-carbinol phase is again extracted twice with water. The entire aqueous phase is acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid and extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed with water, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated. The crude α-ethyl-4-methyl-dihydrocinnamic acid is obtained as an oil and may be purified by chromatography.

Provenance & Evidence