Reaction #1178410

Reaction equation

(4-methoxyphenyl)methanethiol

sodium hydroxide

→

sodium (4-methoxyphenyl)methanethiolate

Solvents

ethanol

Conditions

Procedure

(4-methoxyphenyl)methanethiol is stirred in ethanol with sodium hydroxide to form sodium (4-methoxyphenyl)methanethiolate. An equivalent of 1-(chloromethyl)-4-methoxybenzene is added to the mixture, which is stirred overnight. The reaction mixture is then quenched by addition of dilute acid and the product bis(4-methoxybenzyl)sulfide. Subsequently, the bis(4-methoxybenzyl)sulfide is reacted with HBr in acetonitrile to cleave the methoxy protecting groups, followed by neutralization and purification of the bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)sulfide product.

Source