Potassium Hydroxide → Bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5,7-tetraen-7-ol

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Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of mercury(II) oxide (591.3 mg, 2.73 mmol) and 35% aqueous tetrafluoroboric acid (TFBA) (999.4 mg, 5.46 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (10.9 mL), 1-bromobenzocyclobutene (1.0 g, 5.46 mmol) was added. The reaction stirred at room temperature for 2 h and was then treated successively with NaHCO3 and 3N KOH until the solution remained basic. The precipitated mercury(II) oxide was filtered off and the filtrate extracted with CH2Cl2 (3×300 mL), dried with anhydrous Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated to yield white crystals that were purified via column chromatography using a 3:2 Hexanes:EtOAc solvent system.

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