Acetic Acid → 7-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)heptanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 500 ml single-neck flask was charged with 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)heptanoic acid (A3) (20.0 g, 90 mmole), freshly distilled 48% hydrobromic acid (80 ml), and glacial acetic acid (40 ml). The mixture was heated to reflux by immersing the flask in an oil bath regulated at 140° C. for 3.5 hours. At the end of this time, water (80 ml) was added, the flask was cooled to room temperature, and placed in the refrigerator overnight. The resulting solid, 7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)heptanoic acid, was collected by suction filtration, washed with water (2×80 ml), and dried in vacuo. The product was of sufficient purity to be used in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence