Methanol → [3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-nitrophenyl]methanol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (12.7 g, 0.06 mole) in tetrahydrofuran (60 ml) is cooled to 0° C. and 1N borane:tetrahydrofuran (300 ml, 0.3 mole) is added dropwise over one hour. The mixture is allowed to warm slowly to 25° C. and is stirred for 36 hours. Methanol (50 ml) is added slowly, the mixture is filtered and evaporated. The residue is dissolved in ethyl acetate (100 ml) and washed with water (25 ml), dried (MgSO4), filtered, and evaporated to yield a yellow solid. This is further purified by flash chromatography over silica (elution with 1:1 hexane:ethyl acetate) to afford after concentration pure 2-nitro-1,3-benzenedimethanol, mp 100°-101° C.

Provenance & Evidence