Imidazole → Ethyl 3-(imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropanoate

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Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl 2-phenylprop-2-enoate (160 g, 0.45 mol), imidazole (36.7 g 0.54 mol) and tetramethylguanidine (2 g, 0.017 mol) in dry tetrahydrofuran (1 L) was heated at reflux temperature for 3 hours. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. The resulting aqueous solution was washed with ether, basified with dilute aqueous sodium hydroxide and extracted with chloroform. The organic phase was separated, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield ethyl 3-(imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropanoate (90 g).

Provenance & Evidence