Monobenzone → (+/-) 2-(4-Benzyloxyphenoxy)-cyclopentanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 4-benzyloxyphenol (5 g, 25 mmol), potassium iodide (125 mg), and potassium carbonate (4.48 g, 32.5 mmol) in 2-butanone (30 ml) was added 2-chlorocyclopentanone (5.9 g, 50 mmol). The mixture was heated at reflux for 5 h, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in diethyl ether and washed successively with 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide, water and brine. After drying over magnesium sulfate, solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue subjected to flash chromatography on silica gel eluting with 30% diethyl ether in hexanes to afford the title compound as a pale orange solid (2.4 g).

Provenance & Evidence