Potassium Hydroxide → 2-Benzylacrylic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

The ethyl (α-methylenebenzenepropanoate of Step 8 (4.6 g, 24.3 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (12 mL) and then reacted with 2N potassium hydroxide (24 mL) solution. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours and concentrated by evaporation. The residue was diluted with water and washed with ether. The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 2 with 1N HCl and then extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were dried (MgSO4) and evaporated to give the title compound as colorless oil (2.8 g, 66% yield). 1H NMR: 300 MHz spectrum consistent with proposed structure.

Provenance & Evidence