Sodium Hydroxide → (R)-(+)-3-Chlorostyrene oxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into dimethyl sulfoxide (30 ml) were added (R)-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl methanesulfonate obtained in 2) above (10 g) and, under ice-cooling, a 5N aqueous NaOH solution (15 ml), and then the resulting mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 12 hours. The reaction mixture was added into ice water and extracted with 50% diethyl ether/pentane. The organic layer was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and then dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The desiccant was filtered off, then the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, and the oily substance obtained was distilled under reduced pressure to obtain a colorless oily compound mentioned above (3.62 g, 76.5%). The optical purity of the product obtained was 97.5% e.e. as determined by HPLC.

Provenance & Evidence