Toluene → Methyl 3-(4-methylphenyl)benzoate

Reaction equation

I[C:2]1[CH:3]=[C:4]([CH:9]=[CH:10][CH:11]=1)[C:5]([O:7][CH3:8])=[O:6].[C:12]1([CH3:18])[CH:17]=[CH:16][CH:15]=[CH:14][CH:13]=1>IC1C=CC(C)=CC=1.[Cu]>[CH3:18][C:12]1[CH:17]=[CH:16][C:15]([C:2]2[CH:11]=[CH:10][CH:9]=[C:4]([C:5]([O:7][CH3:8])=[O:6])[CH:3]=2)=[CH:14][CH:13]=1

Participants

Procedure

To a mixture of methyl 3-iodobenzoate (26.1 g) in 4-iodotoluene (21.9 g) was added copper powder (31.8 g) gradually at 180°-190° C. The mixture was then stirred for 6 hours at 200°-210° C. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, to which was added toluene. Insoluble materials were filtered off, and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel to afford the title compound as a colorless oil (6.61 g, 29%).