Methanol → Methyl 2-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetate

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid (3.0 g, 11.03 mmol) (Aldrich) in methanol (20 mL) was added concentrated sulfuric acid (1.0 mL) and the reaction mixture was heated at reflux overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was then diluted with ethyl acetate (100 mL) and successively washed with water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was purified by flash column chromatography to give 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid methyl ester as a colorless oil. (Yield 2.27 g, 72.1%).

Provenance & Evidence