Acetone → Propofol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To 15 g of isopropyl (2-isopropylphenyl) ether was added 8 g of 1% fluorided alumina. The mixture was placed in a 300 cc stirred autoclave and the system was flushed with nitrogen and left under a nitrogen atmosphere. The autoclave was heated to 150° C. for 1 hour with stirring during which time the pressure reached 200 psig. The cooled reaction mixture was taken up in acetone, filtered, and the solvent was removed on a rotary evaporator. The residue was analyzed by gas-liquid phase chromatography (glpc) which showed the presence of 2-isopropylphenol (10%), isopropyl(2-isopropylphenyl) ether (28%), 2,6-diisopropylphenol (60%), and 2,4,6-triisopropylphenol (2%). Thus, the 2,6-diisopropylphenol was formed with 83% selectivity.

Provenance & Evidence