Selenium Dioxide → 2-(3-(Benzyloxy)phenyl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 9.4 g. of selenium dioxide in a solvent mixture of 50 ml. of dioxane and 1.7 ml. of water, was added 16.5 g. of 3-benzyloxyacetophenone. The mixture was refluxed for 4 hrs. with stirring. The resulting precipitates were removed by filtration and the solvents were distilled off from the filtrate under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in benzene and washed with water several times. After drying the benzene layer, benzene was removed by distillation to obtain the glyoxal as yellow liquid in a quantitative yield.

Provenance & Evidence