Sodium Chloride → 3-Methoxybenzyl alcohol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 50 g. of m-methoxybenzoic acid in 500 ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran is slowly added to a stirred solution of 15 g. of lithium aluminum hydride in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran. When the addition is complete the reaction mixture is refluxed for 1 hour, cooled and then treated with 50 ml. of saturated sodium chloride solution. The resultant slurry is filtered and the insoluble material washed with 200 ml. of ether. The combined filtrates are evaporated to dryness to yield an oil which is distilled under reduced pressure, to yield m-methoxybenzyl alcohol as a colourless oil; I.R.: νmax/film 3630 cm-1.

Provenance & Evidence