Ethyl Acetate → (R)-Methyl 2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of (R)-2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyacetic acid (25 g, 133.69 mmol, 1.00 equiv.) in methanol (300 mL) and sulfuric acid (3 mL) was heated at reflux for about 16 hours, and then concentrated in vacuo. After the solution was poured into a water/ice mixture (200 mL), the pH value of the solution was adjusted to 9 with sodium carbonate. Standard extractive workup with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL), gave the title product as an off-white solid (24.8 g; yield=93%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 7.45 (s, 1H), 7.32 (m, 3H), 5.17 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 1H), 3.80 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence