Toluene → 4,4'-Dimethylbenzophenone

Participants

Reaction Steps

The three water extracts from Example 4 (excluding the NaHCO3 extracts) were charged into a 200 mL flask along with toluene (50 mL) and para-toluic acid (1.36 g). The mixture was heated and water was removed azeotropically as in Example 3;once approximately 40 mL of water had been removed a further 50 mL toluene was added. Then, when a total of 75 mL of water had been removed, a final 25 mL toluene was added. The reflux was terminated after 18 hours. After workup (as in Example 3) the reaction gave crude 4,4′-dimethylbenzophenone (0.58 g, 28% yield), which was again practically pure by 1H NMR (M.P. 86.5-87.5° C.). Removal of water from the three water extracts recovered 3.40 g cerium (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate as a damp, off-white solid).

Provenance & Evidence