3-Methylbenzaldehyde → Methyl 3-(3-methylphenyl)prop-2-enoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 6.0 g (49.9 mmol) of m-tolualdehyde and 18.37 g (54.93 mmol) of methyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate in 50 ml of THF was stirred at reflux for 4 hours. The THF was evaporated and the residue was stirred with 200 ml of petroleum ether (bp=30°-60° C.) and filtered. The filtrate was evaporated to give the title compound as a light yellow liquid which was distilled bulb-to-bulb at 90° C./0.4 mm of Hg.

Provenance & Evidence