Benzyl Alcohol → trans-3-Benzyloxy-4-hydroxytetrahydrofuran

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a flask fitted with a condenser and nitrogen inlet was added 3,4-epoxytetrahydrofuran (20 g, 0.23 mol), isobutyronitrile (100 ml, 5 vol), benzyl alcohol (124 g, 1.15 mol, 5 eq.) and finally magnesium perchlorate (10.3 g, 0.046 mol, 0.2 eq). The solution was heated at 100° C. for 24 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction was quenched with water (1000 mL). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×400 mL). After drying the organic phases over MgSO4, filtering and concentrating in vacuo, the trans-3-benzyloxy-4-hydroxytetrahydrofuran was isolated by column chromatography to give 29 g (66% yield) of a clear colorless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence