methyl (E)-4-phenylbut-2-enoate

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

Procedure: To a solution of phenyl acetaldehyde (5.0 g, 41.61 mmol) in toluene (500 mL) was added methyl (triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetate (13.9 g, 41.61 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 3 h. The resulting mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water, dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was added ether/hexane (=1:1, v/v) at 0° C. then stirred for 30 min. The filtrate was concentrated then purified by a silica gel column to produce the title compound (5.9 g, 70˜90%) at reflux for 3 h washed with water dried over MgSO4 filtered concentrated under reduced pressure The crude product was added ether/hexane (=1:1 v/v) at 0° C. then stirred for 30 min The filtrate was concentrated then purified by a silica gel column