Methanol → Methyl (3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a solution of 3-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid (20.0 g. 98 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL), cooled in an ice-water bath, was bubbled HCl (g) for 15 min. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was then concentrated in vacuo to furnish a clear, yellow-green liquid which was diluted with EtOAc (0.25L) and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (2×0.25L), brine (0.25L), and dried (Na2SO4). Concentration in vacuo provided the crude ester which was purified by chromatography on a column of silica gel(230-400 mesh, 600 g, 70 mm o.d., ethyl acetate-hexanes 10:90, 400 mL fractions) using the flash technique. Fractions 6-9 provided 19.08 g (89%) of methyl-3-trifluoromethylphenylacetate as a clear colorless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence