Benzoic Acid → Methyl Benzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

DBU (2.5 g, 16.4 mmol) was added to a mixture of benzoic acid (2.0 g, 16.4 mmol) in DMC (20 mL) and the resulting mixture was heated to reflux (90° C.) for 2.5 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and diluted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL) and water (40 mL). The organic layer was separated and washed in sequence with 2 M HCl (2×40 mL), saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (40 mL) and water (2×40 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to give methyl benzoate as an oil. The yield of the methyl benzoate as determined by HPLC was 97-98% conversion.

Provenance & Evidence