4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methylphenol

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a solution of 4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methylphenol (4.25 g, 30.8 mmol) in ethanol (90 ml) was added 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide (17 ml, 34 mmol) and then benzyl bromide (3.65 ml, 30.8 mmol, Aldrich). The pale yellow mixture was stirred at ambient temperature under nitrogen overnight. The solvent was removed in vacuo to leave an aqueous suspension. The residue was partitioned between dichloromethane (100 ml) and water (100 ml). The phases were separated and the aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane (50 ml). The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO4), filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to leave an orange oil. The residue was loaded in dichloromethane and purified on silica (100 g×3) using 0-100% ethyl acetate-cyclohexane. The appropriate fractions were combined and the solvent evaporated in vacuo to give {2-methyl-4-[(phenylmethyl)oxy]phenyl}methanol (2.59 g). The solvent was removed in vacuo to leave an aqueous suspension The residue was partitioned between dichloromethane (100 ml) and water (100 ml) The phases were separated the aqueous phase extracted with dichloromethane (50 ml) The combined organic extracts were dried (MgSO4) filtered the solvent removed in vacuo to leave an orange oil purified on silica (100 g×3) the solvent evaporated in vacuo