Hydrochloric Acid → 8-Hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-octa-2,4,6-trien-1-oic acid ethyl ester

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

36 g. of 7-formyl-3-methyl-octa-2,4,6-trien-1-oic acid ethyl ester are dissolved in 600 ml. of absolute ethanol. The solution is treated portionwise with 1.8 g. of sodium borohydride. The mixture is stirred for 2 hours at 10° C., then poured onto ice water and 3n aqueous hydrochloric acid and extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed successively with water, a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and once more with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. There is obtained 8-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-octa-2,4,6-trien-1-oic acid ethyl ester, which is processed further as follows:

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