Acetone → Propofol

Participants

Reaction Steps

The following description is representative of the rearrangement of an alkyl phenyl ether. A mixture of 15 g isopropyl (2-isopropylphenyl) ether and 5 g of catalyst (gamma-alumina, silica-modifed alumina, or aluminum phosphate) in a 300 ml stirred autoclave under nitrogen may be heated for 2-6 hours with stirring. After the reaction mixture has cooled to room temperature a solvent such as acetone may be added and the mixture filtered. Solvent may be removed by evaporation, under reduced pressure if desired, and the formed 2,6-diisopropylphenol may be isolated by fractional distillation.

Provenance & Evidence