Bouveault-Blanc condensation

The Riihlmann modification (Bouveault-Blanc Condensation or Riihlmann Reaction) traps the dienolate as a TMS derivative. This protocol generally results in improved yields. 

Benzilic acid rearrangement Benzoin reaction (condensation) Blanc chloromethylation reaction Bouveault-Blanc reduction Bucherer hydantoin synthesis Bucherer reaction Cannizzaro reaction Claisen aldoi condensation Claisen condensation Claisen-Schmidt reaction. Clemmensen reduction Darzens glycidic ester condensation Diazoamino-aminoazo rearrangement Dieckmann reaction Diels-Alder reaction Doebner reaction Erlenmeyer azlactone synthesis Fischer indole synthesis Fischer-Speior esterification Friedel-Crafts reaction... 

Fig. 17.59. Reduction of a carboxylic ester with dissolving sodium. Branching of the reduction paths in the presence (Bouveault-Blanc reduction) and absence (acyloin condensation) of protons.

The so-called acyloin condensation consists of the reduction of esters—and the reduction of diesters in particular—with sodium in xylene. The reaction mechanism of this condensation is shown in rows 2-4 of Figure 14.51. Only the first of these intermediates, radical anion C, occurs as an intermediate in the Bouveault-Blanc reduction as well. In xylene, of course, the radical anion C cannot be protonated. As a consequence, it persists until the second ester also has taken up an electron while forming the bis(radical anion) F. The two radical centers of F combine in the next step to give the sodium glycolate G. Compound G, the dianion of a bis(hemiacetal), is converted into the 1,2-diketone J by elimination of two equivalents of sodium alkoxide. This diketone is converted by two successive electron transfer reactions into the enediolate I, which is stable in xylene until it is converted into the enediol H during acidic aqueous workup. This enediol tautomerizes subsequently to furnish the a-hydroxyketone—or... 

In ester condensations it is sometimes necessary to warm the mixture gently to overcome an induction period, but cooling is often required as the reaction proceeds, otherwise side reactions may occur, e.g., Bouveault-Blanc reduction (see page 76). It is not always easy or possible to determine the end of the reaction from the appearance of precipitated solids, because the sodium may become coated mechanically and withdrawn from the reaction. Care is thus needed during working up, which usually begins with acidification of the reaction mixture when possible, the acetic acid used for acidification should not be added to the reaction flask, but the reaction mixture should be poured into a wide, open porcelain dish and the larger pieces of sodium should be then removed by hand. 

Benzilic acid rearrangement Benzoin reaction (condensation) Blanc chloromethylation reaction Bouveault-Blanc reduction Bucherer hydantoin synthesis. Bucherer reaction. . ... 

This reaction was first reported by Bouveault and Blanc in 1903, and was further extended by Bouveault and Locquin. It is the synthesis of symmetrical a-hydroxy ketones via the reductive condensation of esters in an inert solvent in the presence of sodium. Since symmetrical a-hydroxy ketones, the aliphatic analogs of benzoins, are generally known as acyloins, the formation of a-hydroxy ketones from esters is simply referred to as acyloin condensation. In a few cases, it is also referred to as acyloin reaction." For the individual acyloin, the name is derived by adding the suffix oin to the stem name of corresponding acid, e.g., acetoin prepared from acetate. The most common method used to make acyloin is the reductive condensation of aliphatic esters with sodium in inert solvents, such as ether, xylene or even in liquid NH3 The yield of this reaction can be greatly improved when trimethylchlorosilane presents." " Intromolecular acyloin condensation from aliphatic diesters affords cyclic ketones of different ring sizes. 

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