Water → 1-(Nitromethyl)cyclopentanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of cyclopentanone (40.0 mL, 452 mmol) in nitromethane (36 mL) and ethanol (14 mL) was added a solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol (2.67 M, 8.5 mL, 23 mmol). The solution was stirred for 5 days at room temperature. Water (400 mL) was added and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×350 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with water (2×200) and brine (200 mL), dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated. The starting materials and solvent were removed from the product by distillation under reduced pressure to yield 8.3 g of 1-(nitromethyl)cyclopentanol as a yellow liquid.

Provenance & Evidence