6186-22-7

21892-60-4

6186-22-7

1-Bromo-4-(2-nitroprop-1-en-1-yl)benzene (116.8 g, 0.48 mol) was mixed with iron powder (228 g, 4.08 mol) and ferric(III) chloride (2.28 g, 14 mmol) in water (456 ml), heated to 65°C and then 37% hydrochloric acid (about 20 ml) was added slowly and dropwise. The heating was stopped and the mixture was warmed up to about 95°C due to an exothermic reaction. After the exothermic reaction subsided, 37% hydrochloric acid (about 200 ml) was added slowly and stirring was continued to room temperature. Ethyl acetate (900 ml) was added and stirred for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was filtered through a diatomaceous earth pad and layered and the aqueous phase was re-extracted with ethyl acetate (200 ml). The organic phases were combined, washed with brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. Filtration and concentration gave 2-(4-bromophenyl)acetone (96.5 g, 94% yield) as an oil, which was pure enough to be used directly in the subsequent reaction.