Ethanol → 2-(4-Tert-butylphenoxy)acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-t-butylphenol, 37.5 gm, was added to 300 ml of ethanol. 57.2 gm of a 25% solution of sodium methoxide (2equivalents) in methanol was then added to the system. The system was stirred at room temperature for approximately 0.5 hour. Afterwards, 29.5 ml of bromoacetic acid was added and the system was then heated to reflux for 18 hours. The reaction was then stopped and the solvent removed by stripping. The resulting solid was dissolved in methylene chloride; dilute sodium hydroxide was added to give a basic pH. The resulting precipitate was dissolved in hydrochloric acid and then extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride was then stripped, and the resulting crude product air dried. Toluene was then added to the product. The toluene was removed by stripping and any remaining water was azeotroped off with the toluene to give 33.3 gm of 4-t-butylphenoxyacetic acid.

Provenance & Evidence