Phenethyl bromide → 1,5-Diphenylpentan-3-ol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2-(bromoethyl)benzene (1.73 g; 9.33 mmol) in diethylether (10 mL) was added to a stirred slurry of magnesium turnings (250 mg; 10.18 mmol) in 5 mL of ether. The reaction was initiated with a heat gun, and after the addition was complete the mixture was heated on an oil bath for 30 minutes. 3-Phenyl-1-propanal (1.25 g; 9.33 mmol) was added in 10 mL of ether, and reflux was continued for 1 hour. The reaction was cooled and quenched with saturated ammonium chloride, extracted into 2x ethyl acetate, and the combined organic portions were dried and concentrated. Chromatographic purification on a silica gel column (10% ethyl acetate in hexane) delivered 1.42 g (63%) of the diphenyl alcohol. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ1.84 (m, 4H); 2.61-2.76 (m,4H); 3.65 (m, 1H); 7.19-7.29 (m, 10H).

Provenance & Evidence