The research was done by a research scholar at the School of Pharmacy at Jiamusi University to discuss the paper on microwave-assisted synthesis of p-hydroxyanisole, published in the important journal .

Using hydroquinone as raw material, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as methylation reagent and polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) as phase transfer catalyst, p-hydroxyanisole was synthesized under microwave assisted conditions. The structure was confirmed by 1H NMR. The optimal synthesis conditions were determined by orthogonal experiments: n (hydroquinone): n (DMC): n (K2CO3): n (PEG-400) = 1:8:0.65:0.40, reaction temperature The yield of p-hydroxyanisole was 76.40% under the conditions of 95 ° C and a reaction time of 35 min. The synthetic method avoids the use of highly toxic reagents, has high safety and is easy to operate.

1.10 g (0.01 mol) of hydroquinone, 0.9 g (0.0065 mol) of potassium carbonate, 1.6 g (0.004 mol) of PEG-400 and 7.2 g were added to a 50 mL three-necked flask ( 0.08 mol) DMC, placed in a microwave synthesis reactor and equipped with a reflux device, set the reaction temperature to 95 ° C, the reaction time was 35 min, the power was 450 W, the reaction was started, and the reaction process was monitored by TLC (the developing solvent was petroleum ether: Ethyl acetate = 2:1). After the completion of the reaction, the product was evaporated by steam distillation, and the organic solvent was evaporated to dryness to afford white crystals.