Oxalic Acid → 5-Methoxy-6-(1-phenylethyl)-1,3-benzodioxole

Participants

Reaction Steps

(α-Methylbenzyl)-3,4-methylenedioxy-6-methoxybenzene was prepared as follows: A solution of sesamol (41.4 g), 1-phenylethyl alcohol (36.6 g) and oxalic acid (2 g) in acetic acid (100 ml) and water (10 ml) was refluxed for 24 hours and diluted with water. Distillation of the oily product gave a pale yellow oil, b.p. 204°-205° at 4.0 mm Hg (56 g) which crystallized. Recrystallization from benzene-skelly solve F gave (α-methylbenzyl)-3,4-methylenedioxy-6-hydroxybenzene as colorless needles, m.p. 101°-102° (Found: C, 74.2, H, 5.75. Calc. for C15H14O3 : C, 74.4; H, 5.83%); pmr spectrum: δ1.57, 3H, D (J=7 Hz); δ4.29, 1H, Q (J=7 Hz); δ4.50, 1H, S; δ5.86, 2H, S; δ6.35, 1H, S; δ6.72, 1H, S; δ7.25, 5H, S.

Provenance & Evidence