Sodium borohydride → Methyl 2-(4-hydroxymethylphenoxy)propionate

Participants

Reaction Steps

44 gm (0.211 mol) of methyl 2-(4-formyl-phenoxy)-propionate were dissolved in 500 ml of methanol, and 8 gm (0.211 mol) of sodium borohydride were added in small portions to the solution. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then at 60° C. for 30 minutes. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo to one-half its original volume, poured into water, neutralized with hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ether. The ethereal extract solution was washed, dried and evaporated, leaving 20 gm of methyl 2-(4-hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-propionate as a colorless oil which was purified on a silicagel column with chloroform as the flow agent.

Provenance & Evidence