Chloroacetic Acid → 2-(4-Tert-butylphenoxy)acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 10.0 g (66.7 mmoles) p-tertbutylphenol in 50 ml dry dimethyl formamide was added, dropwise, to a mechanically stirred slurry of 8.4 g sodium hydride (as 50% oil dispersion) in 500 ml dry dimethyl formamide. To the phenoxide solution was added, dropwise, a solution of 6.3 g (66.3 mmoles) chloroacetic acid in 50 ml dry dimethyl formamide. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for two hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with 200 ml diethyl ether and acidified with 3N hydrochloric acid. The aqueous layer was removed and washed with 200 ml diethyl ether. The organic layers were combined, dried (MgSO4) and evaporated to a white gummy residue which was dried in vacuo yielding p-t-butylphenoxyacetic acid, 9.0 g (65%).

Provenance & Evidence