Benzyl Alcohol → Methyl 3-benzyloxy-3-phenyl-2-hydroxybutyrate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

9.6 g (50 mmol) of methyl 3-phenyl-2,3-epoxybutyrate are dissolved in 150 ml of benzyl alcohol, and 0.5 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid is added. The mixture is stirred at 50° C. for 6 hours and allowed to cool to room temperature. After neutralization with sodium bicarbonate solution, the excess benzyl alcohol is removed by distillation under high vacuum, and the residue is purified by flash chromatography on silica gel with 9:1 n-hexane/ethyl acetate. After removal of the solvent by distillation, 6.5 g of a colorless oil remain.

Provenance & Evidence