Benzene → 2-Pentanone, 4-methyl-4-phenyl-

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a slurry of AlCl3 (40.0 g, 0.3 mole) in benzene (90 mL) maintained at 10° C. under argon was added dropwise mesityl oxide (0.2 mole, 19.63 g). Upon completion of the addition the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours. The reaction mixture was poured onto ice/10% HCl (350 g). The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (100 mL). The combined organics were washed with distilled H2O, saturated NaHCO3 solution, saturated NaCl solution and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was recovered under vacuum and the crude product (31.6 g) was vacuum distilled (b.p.=107° C. @ 3.0 mmHg) to obtain 24.5 g (69%) of the title A compound as a colorless oil. MS: (M+H)+ @ 177.

Provenance & Evidence