Acetic Acid → 4-(p-Tolyl)-2-butanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-Carboethoxy-4-(4-methylphenyl)but-2-one (20 g), (prepared by hydrogenation over PtO2 at 1 atmosphere of 3-carboethoxy-4-(4-methylphenyl)but-3-en-2-one) was heated under reflux for 3.5 h in a mixture of glacial acetic acid (48 ml), concentrated hydrochloric acid (5.6 ml) and water (30 ml). The solvent was evaporated, the residue dissolved in xylene, washed with water, dried and evaporated. The residue was distilled to give 4-(4-methylphenyl)butan-2-one, 11.0 g, bp 80-90/1 mm).

Provenance & Evidence