Acetic Anhydride → PHENOL, 2,6-DIMETHYL-, ACETATE

Participants

Reaction Steps

100 g (0.82 mole) of 2,6-dimethylphenol and 167.4 g (1.64 mole) of acetic anhydride were refluxed for 4 h. The reaction mixture was poured onto ice and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic phase was washed with dilute sodium hydroxide solution, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. 138 g of 2,6-dimethylphenyl acetate were obtained. To this product were added 120.2 g (0.9 mole) of anhydrous aluminum chloride in portions, during which the temperature rose to 85° C. The mixture was then heated at 110° C. for 30 min and left to cool. The viscous paste was poured onto ice/hydrochloric acid, and the precipitated product was filtered off. Recrystallization from 1/1 methanol/water resulted in 103.6 g of 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyacetophenone.

Provenance & Evidence