Sulfuric Acid → 4-tert-Butyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 2-trifluoromethylphenol (25 g., 0.15 moles), tert-butyl alcohol (12 g., 0.16 mole), trifluoroacetic acid (100 ml.) and 96% sulfuric acid (2 ml.) is stirred at about 20° C. for 48 hours. The mixture then is evaporated as far as possible under reduced pressure at 35°-40° C. The residue is dissolved in benzene (500 ml.) and the solution is washed with water, saturated NaHCO3 solution and saturated salt brine and dried over anhydrous MgSO4. The dried solution is again evaporated under reduced pressure and the temperature is finally raised to 140°-145° C. under 65 mm. pressure to remove unchanged 2-trifluoromethylphenol. The residue is distilled at 65 mm. after collecting a small fore-run (75% unchanged starting phenol and 25% product), 2-trifluoromethyl-4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol (13.6 g.) is collected at 120°-132° C. as a pale pink oil that is 98% pure by gas liquid chromatography analysis and can be used directly in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence