4-tert-Butylbenzaldehyde explained

4-tert-Butylbenzaldehyde is an aromatic aldehyde and an important intermediate for the synthesis of synthetic aroma compounds.

Synthesis

4-tert-Butylbenzaldehyde is notable as a rare example of industrial-scale electrochemistry. It is produced by BASF and Givaudan (typically as its methanol acetal) through a double anodic oxidation of 4-tert-butyltoluene on greater than 10,000 ton per year scale.^{[1] [2]}

Applications

Aldol condensation with either propionaldehyde or acetaldehyde, followed by hydrogenation, gives the fragrance compounds lilial and bourgeonal, respectively.

Notes and References

1. Möhle . Sabine . Zirbes . Michael . Rodrigo . Eduardo . Gieshoff . Tile . Wiebe . Anton . Waldvogel . Siegfried R. . Modern Electrochemical Aspects for the Synthesis of Value-Added Organic Products . Angewandte Chemie International Edition . 22 May 2018 . 57 . 21 . 6018–6041 . 10.1002/anie.201712732. 29359378 . 6001547 .
2. Botte . G. G. . Electrochemical Manufacturing in the Chemical Industry . Interface Magazine . 1 January 2014 . 23 . 3 . 49–55 . 10.1149/2.F04143if. 2014ECSIn..23c..49B . free .