Benzyl Alcohol → 1-(4-Benzyloxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of benzyl alcohol (10.9 mL; 104.98 mmol) and KOtBu (12.96 g; 115.5 mmol) in THF (500 mL) was heated under reflux for 10 minutes. Subsequently, 4′-fluoro-3′-(trifluoromethyl)acetophenone (21.64 g; 105 mmol) was added and the mixture heated under reflux for another 2 hours. After cooling to RT, the mixture was partitioned between EtOAc and a 5% aqueous NaHCO3 solution. The organic layer was separated, dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography (SiO2, Et2O:hexanes 1:2.5) to afford 1-(4-Benzyloxy-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethanone (22.37 g).

Provenance & Evidence