Alumina-Assisted Basic Hydrolysis of Esters¹

Abstract

“Anhydrous hydroxide” formed by reaction of 2 equiv of potassium tert-butoxide with 1 equiv of water in dry ether serves as a useful reagent for hydrolyzing esters and tertiary amides at ambient temperatures.² During the course of our studies dealing with alumina as a support and as a catalyst for solid-liquid biphase reactions, we have discovered that potassium hydroxide crushed together with neutral alumina (reagent 1) provides the basis for an equally effective means for carrying out ester hydrolysis.^3,4 Moreover, isolation of the alcohol is readily accomplished by simple filtration and solvent evaporation.