2'',5''-Dimethoxypropiophenone is a component of essential oils of some plants in the Asarum genus. It is also a useful building block and has been used in the preparation of methoxamine hydrochloride.
Obtained by acylation of hydroquinone dimethyl ether,
with propionyl chloride in the presence of aluminium chloride in petroleum ether (34%), in carbon disulfide, or using 10% mol. samarium triiodide in acetonitrile (60%)
with propionic anhydride in the presence of aluminium chloride in nitromethane
with propionic acid in the presence of PPA at 70° for 2 h (95%)
in the presence of zeolite catalyst.
