Hydrochloric Acid → 2-Methyloctanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

After 46.4 g of concentrated sulfuric acid and 21.2 g (147 mmol) of (-)-2-methyloctanol were added to 330 ml of water, 63.4 g (401 mmol) of potassium permanganate was added dropwise over 7.3 hours while the reaction temperature was held at 21°~28° C. The thus obtained reaction mixture was poured into 270 ml of ice water, added with 52 g of sodium hydrogen sulfite, adjusted to pH of not more than 1 with hydrochloric acid, extracted with ether and then extracted with a 10% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. This extract was added with hydrochloric acid to adjust pH to not more than 1 and again extracted with chloroform. The extract was washed with water, dried, concentrated and distilled under a reduced pressure (0.28 mmHg, 91°~94° C.) to obtain 15.3 g (yield 64%) of (+)-2-methyl octanoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence