hey...my lab sucks... all these chemicals but no methylenedioxybenzene... but i think i can make some from catachol ... theres a synth on rhodiums page and ive been checking out scifinder... BUT ... we dont have much dmso lying around... so i was hoping to discuss which solvents would be suitable? ... perhaps THF?
heres the prep which appears on rhodiums page... thankx guys
A solution of 110 g of catechol, 120 ml of 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide and 200 ml of DMSO was heated to 98°C and stirred at that temperature for 30 minutes. This solution at 98°C. was added over a 30 minute period to a refluxing solution of 120 ml of methylene dichloride in 300 ml of DMSO. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 1.5 hours. Steam was then passed into the mixture to achieve steam distillation of the product. The distillate (600 ml) was extracted with 100 ml of methylene dichloride, which extract was washed once with 50 ml of water. The methylene dichloride solution was then concentrated in vacuo at 40°C. to yield 119.4 g. of a colorless oil. Gas chromatographic analysis showed 97.5 percent methylenedioxybenzene. Yield 116.4g (95.4%).