Water → ethyl 2-(3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 56 g (0.25 mol) of triethyl phosphonoacetate in 70 ml of tetrahydrofuran (THF) is added dropwise to a suspension, maintained at 0° C., of 6 g (0.25 mol) of NaH in 600 ml of anhydrous THF under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture is then stirred at 10° C. for 30 minutes, cooled to 0° C., and then treated, dropwise, with a solution of 36.52 g (0.25 mol) of β-tetralone in 50 ml of anhydrous THF. After stirring for 3 hours at 20° C., the mixture is hydrolysed, at 0° C., with 200 ml of water. The solvent is evaporated off under reduced pressure and the residue is extracted with dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)(3×200 ml). The combined organic phases are washed with saturated NaCl solution, dried and concentrated to yield an oily brown residue. Distillation under a partial vacuum allows the title compound to be obtained in the form of a colourless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence