Isopropanol → Fenofibrate

Participants

Reaction Steps

1 liter of isopropyl alcohol, 232.5 g (1 mol) of (4-chlorophenyl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone, 138 g (1 mol) of potassium carbonate and 355 g (1.7 mol) of the 1-methylethyl ester of 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoic acid are introduced into a 4 liter reactor equipped with a stirrer and a condenser. The reaction medium is heated gently, with vigorous stirring, and then kept under reflux for 8 hours. About 400 ml of isopropyl alcohol are then distilled off, after which the medium is cooled, with stirring. The precipitate formed is filtered off and then washed with water in the heterogeneous phase, with shaking. It is filtered off and then washed again with 2% sodium hydroxide solution and then with water until the washings are neutral. The product is filtered off and purified by recrystallization from isopropyl alcohol to give 140 g of fenofibrate (yield=38.8%).

Provenance & Evidence