P-Cresol → Ethyl 2,2-bis(4-methylphenoxy)acetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium (5.7 g) is dissolved in ethanol (160 cc), and a solution of para-cresol (27 g) in ethanol (20 cc) is added. The mixture is stirred for 1 hour at 20° C. and ethyl dichloroacetate (20 g) in solution in ethanol (20 cc) is then added. The mixture is heated under reflux for 20 hours and then allowed to cool. The white precipitate obtained is filtered off and the filtrate is concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (20 mmHg) at 40° C. The oil thus obtained is taken up in diethyl ether (300 cc) and washed twice with N sodium hydroxide solution (100 cc each time) and twice with distilled water (100 cc each time). The ethereal phase is then dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered, and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure (20 mmHg) at 40° C. Ethyl 2,2-bis(4-methylphenoxy)acetate (29 g) is thus obtained as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence