Propylene Oxide → 2-Bromo-5-tert-butyl-1,3-dimethylbenzene

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 200 g (1.23 mole) 5-t-butyl-1,3-dimethylbenzene and 83 ml (1.23 mole) propylene oxide in 500 ml of methylene chloride at 15° C. or less, 63 ml (1.23 mole) bromine was added dropwise while maintaining the solution temperature at 15° C. or less. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to 25° C. overnight. A 200 ml solution of 5% by weight of potassium hydroxide in water was added and the resulting two phase system was stirred for 1 hr at 25° C. The organic phase was washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After solvent evaporation an oil was left which when crystallized from methanol gave 265 g (87% yield) of the title compound after drying in vacuo. The oil could also be purified by distilling at 61°-70° C. under a reduced pressure of 0.25 mm of mercury.

Provenance & Evidence