Potassium Carbonate → 2-(4-Nitrophenyl)oxirane

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To an ice-cold stirred suspension of 4-nitrophenacyl bromide (80 g, 0.33 mol) in methanol (800 mL) was added sodium borohydride (13.64 g, 0.36 mol) in small portions. After stirring for 2 h at 0-5° C., potassium carbonate (45.20 g, 0.33 mol) was added in small portions at the same temperature. The suspension was stirred for 18 h at room temperature, diluted with brine (600 mL) and extracted with diethyl ether (600 mL, 500 mL), the combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The title compound (54.87 g, 0.33 mmol, 100%) was obtained as a pale yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence