Org. Synth. 1947, 27, 9
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.027.0009
α-BROMOBENZALACETONE
[3-Buten-2-one, 3-bromo-4-phenyl-]
Submitted by Norman H. Cromwell, Donald J. Cram, and Chas. E. Harris.
Checked by R. L. Shriner and William O. Foye.
1. Procedure
Warning: Precautions must be taken to avoid contact with α-bromobenzalacetone since it is a skin irritant (Note 1).
In a
500-ml. round-bottomed flask fitted with a reflux condenser are placed
100 g. (0.33 mole) of benzalacetone dibromide (p. 105),
30 g. (0.37 mole) of anhydrous sodium acetate, and
250 ml. of 95% ethanol, and the mixture is refluxed vigorously for 4 hours in the absence of direct sunlight. The precipitate of
sodium bromide is removed by filtration, and the alcohol is removed from the filtrate by distillation under reduced pressure
(Note 2). The residual salt-oil mixture is extracted with two
50-ml. portions of ether, and the
ether solution is transferred to a
250-ml. separatory funnel(Caution! (Note 1)).
The ether solution is washed thoroughly six times with 25-ml. portions of saturated sodium chloride solution and twice with 25-ml. portions of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution (Note 3). The ether layer is allowed to dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate at room temperature for 24 hours. The ether is removed by distillation, and the residual oil is distilled from a Claisen flask under reduced pressure, using an oil bath. A yield of 47–54 g. (64–73%) of a pale yellow oil, boiling at 114–117°/1 mm. (Note 4), is obtained. On cooling, the oil crystallizes; m.p. 30–31°. The product is stored in a dark bottle in the ice chest (Note 5) and (Note 6).
2. Notes
1.
α-Bromobenzalacetone or its solutions cause the formation of red spots on the skin. After several days these form large red blisters that are painful and take several days to heal. The affected parts should be treated with a mixture of peanut-oil and
glycerol containing a little
ammonia.
2.
The reduced pressure produced by a
water pump is satisfactory. The flask is warmed with a
hot water bath (40–50°).
3.
It is necessary that the product be entirely free from
acetic acid before it is distilled in order to obtain the yields stated.
4.
Boiling points at other pressures are:
136–138°/4 mm.;
150–151°/10 mm.5.
When stored in this manner the product is quite stable and darkens only slightly after 9 months.
6.
The analogous
α-bromobenzalacetophenone may be prepared by a similar procedure. In a
1-l. three-necked round-bottomed flask fitted with a mercury-sealed stirrer and a reflux condenser are placed
150 g. (0.41 mole) of benzalacetophenone dibromide,
1 41 g. (0.50 mole) of anhydrous sodium acetate, and
250 ml. of 95% ethanol. The mixture is stirred and refluxed for 5 hours and then worked up in the same manner as described above for
α-bromobenzalacetone. Distillation gives a yield of
100–110 g. (
85–94%) of a pale yellow oil, boiling at
170–173°/1 mm. On cooling, the oil crystallizes and melts at
42–44°. This product should also be stored in a dark bottle in the ice chest, but it is more stable and darkens less on standing than the analogous
α-bromobenzalacetone. This product is less irritating to the skin than
α-bromobenzalacetone (Note 1).
3. Discussion
α-Bromobenzalacetone has been prepared from
benzalacetone dibromide by heating with
alcoholic potassium hydroxide2 or with
sodium acetate3 solutions.
α-Bromobenzalacetophenone is prepared by a similar procedure from
benzalacetophenone dibromide.
4
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
ethanol (64-17-5)
acetic acid (64-19-7)
ammonia (7664-41-7)
ether (60-29-7)
sodium acetate (127-09-3)
glycerol (56-81-5)
sodium bicarbonate (144-55-8)
sodium chloride (7647-14-5)
sodium bromide (7647-15-6)
sodium sulfate (7757-82-6)
potassium hydroxide (1310-58-3)
Benzalacetophenone dibromide (611-91-6)
Benzalacetone dibromide (6310-44-7)
α-Bromobenzalacetone
3-Buten-2-one, 3-bromo-4-phenyl- (31207-17-7)
α-bromobenzalacetophenone (6935-75-7)
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