Hydrochloric Acid → 4-[2-(4-Methylphenyl)ethoxy]aniline

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-[2-(4-Methylphenyl)ethoxy]nitrobenzene (VI) (5.14 g, 0.02 mole) and iron powder (6.7 g, 0.12 mole) were added to 50% aqueous ethanol (50 ml), and a solution of conc. hydrochloric acid (1 ml) in 50% aqueous ethanol (10 ml) was added dropwise thereto over 15 minutes with stirring under reflux. After heating under reflux for an additional 2 hours, the reaction mixture was cooled, neutralized with a dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and extracted with ether. The ether layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, concentrated and distilled to obtain 4.1 g of 4-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethoxy]aniline (V) (yield, 90.3%).

Provenance & Evidence