Hydrochloric Acid → 1-[3,3-Di(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl]-4-methoxymethylbenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

Diethyl malonate (0.32 g) is added to a solution of 0.05 g sodium in 10 mL of methanol. The 1-(methoxymethyl)-4-(2-bromoethyl)benzene (13) (0.5 g) is then added and allowed to react for 8 h. The solution is neutralized with methanolic HCl and is extracted with ether. The ether extract is dried over Na2SO4, and evaporated to yield 1-[3,3-di(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl]-4-methoxymethylbenzene (14). The methyl group is removed by treatment with aqueous HBr in acetic acid, followed by neutralization with aqueous NaOH and extraction with ether. The ether extract is dried over Na2SO4, and evaporated to yield 1-[3,3-di(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl]-4-hydroxymethylbenzene (4).

Provenance & Evidence