Ethyl Acetate → 3-(3-Cyclopentoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propenyl alcohol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of 0.50 g (1.81 mmol) of methyl 3-(3-cyclopentoxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-E-propenoate in 70 mL of dry methylene chloride under a nitrogen atmosphere was added dropwise 3.0 mL (3.0 mmol) of a 1.0M solution of diisobutylaluminum hydride in toluene over a 10 minute period at room temperature. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at the end of which time the solution was slowly poured over a stirring solution of 30 mL of saturated ammonium chloride. The resulting solution was stirred for 30 minutes during which time a gelatinous solid formed. Absorption of the solid on excess Celite 545 followed by filtration over a pad of Celite 545 and elution with three, 30 mL portions of chloroform provided a yellow suspension. Separation of the layers followed by washing the organic fraction with 30 mL of saturated sodium chloride, drying over magnesium sulfate and concentration gave a crude yellow product. Liquid chromatography over 100 g of silica gel eluting with 30% ethyl acetate in hexane provided the desired, analytically pure product after drying in vacuo.

Provenance & Evidence