Water → 9,10-Dihydrophenanthrene-1-methanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Under a dry nitrogen atmosphere a solution of ethyl 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylate (5.15 grams, 0.02 mole) in anhydrous diethyl ether (50 ml) was added to a slurry of lithium aluminum hydride (0.5 grams, 0.013 mole) in anhydrous diethyl ether (100 ml). The rate was such that a reflux was maintained throughout the addition. After complete addition, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for two hours. Water (1 ml) was cautiously added to the reaction mixture, followed by 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide (1 ml) and water (3 ml). Diatomaceous earth was added to the mixture and the resultant mixture filtered. The filter cake was washed with diethyl ether and the filtrates combined and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a green solid. This solid was chromatographed on silica gel using methylene chloride as eluant to give a brown solid. Recrystallization from n-hexane gave 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-1-methanol (1.5 grams) as tan crystals (mp 108°-110°).

Provenance & Evidence