Carbon Dioxide → beta-Phenylisovaleric acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Magnesium (4,86 g, 0.2 mol, 50-150 mesh), neophylchloride (0.2 g) and tetrahydrofurane(10 ml) were placed in a flask under an atmosphere of argon. A Grignard reaction was then started with 1,2-dibromoethane (0.2 ml). Neophylchloride (35,47 g, 0.2 mol) dissolved in MTBE (50 ml) was then added at reflux over a period of 50 minutes. After stirring for 2½ h at the same temperature, the reaction mixture was diluted with MTBE and dried CO2 was introduced above the surface at a temperature of 35° C. (ice cooling). The mixture was then acidified with HCl and extracted with MTBE. GC revealed the presence of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-hexane and phenylisobutyric in a ratio of 54:46.

Provenance & Evidence