Hydrochloric Acid → (Z)-3-(5-ethyl-3-methoxy-4-methoxymethoxy-1-naphthyl)-2-methylpropenoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

71.2 g of ethyl (Z)-3-(5-ethyl-3-methoxy-4-methoxymethoxy-1-naphthyl)-2-methylpropenoate was dissolved in 600 ml of ethanol and a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution (potassium hydroxide 71 g/water 140 ml) was added, followed by refluxing for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was cooled on an ice bath, after which 700 ml of 2N hydrochloric acid was added to make it acidic, followed by extraction with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated to obtain 66 g of the titled compound as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence