Ethanol → 1-Phenylethanol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Into a 3 ounce glass pressure bottle are placed 180 milligrams of [Rh(norbornadiene) (iso-propylphenylmethylphosphine)2 ]BF4 ([α]D25 = +11.0° for the phosphine), 7.7 grams of acetophenone, 3 ml absolute ethanol, and 0.12 ml water. The bottle is flushed and filled with hydrogen as in Example 1 to 30 psig. The bottle is warmed to 60°C and the contents stirred for 5 hours. Distillation of the reaction mass affords pure α-methylbenzyl alcohol, [α]D25 = -1.78°, optical purity = 4.2%.

Provenance & Evidence