Furfural → 3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-Dienal

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Reaction Steps

This example illustrates the use of triisobutylaluminum to generate the aluminum alkoxide catalyst. A flask was charged with 80 grams of nerol and 10 ml of a 25% solution of triisobutylaluminum in toluene. To the solution was added 39 grams (0.75 equivalents) of furfural and the solution was allowed to react at ambient temperature for 18 hours. Analysis by glpc showed that 69% of the nerol had been consumed to give citral in 98+% yield.

Provenance & Evidence