Nitric Acid → 4-Hydroxy-3-nitrophenethyl chloride

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of concentrated nitric acid (1.8 ml) in acetic acid (4 ml) was added to a stirred solution of 4-hydroxyphenethyl chloride (4.5 g) in acetic acid (25 ml), keeping the temperature below 15°. The mixture was then stirred at 10° for 3.5 hours, poured into water, and extracted into ethyl acetate. The organic extract was washed with 5% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography on silica (50 g) using hexane plus 0-10% ethyl acetate as the eluant. Appropriate fractions were combined and evaporated to give the title compound as a colourless solid (3.2 g, 55%), m.p. 53°-55°.

Provenance & Evidence