Water → 3-Methyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)butanoic acid

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of α-isopropyl-2-naphthaleneacetonitrile (264.3 g, 1.263 mole), concentrated sulfuric acid (660 ml) and water (660 ml), is heated at 140° C. for 12 hours. The mixture is allowed to cool slowly during which the acid precipitates. The solid is collected by filtration, washed thoroughly with cold water (4 × 500 ml), and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. The yield is 281 g (97.6%). The solid is taken up in hexane (750 ml) and benzene (750 ml) and brought to boiling. The cloudy solution on cooling gives a white crystalline solid, which is collected and dried; (227 g, 2 crops, 78.8%); m.p. 129°-130° C. An analytical sample prepared in another run has a m.p. of 130°-131° C.

Provenance & Evidence