Water → Methyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

L-3-Phenyllactic acid (5 g, 30 mmol) was dissolved in 25 mL of dimethylformamide and cesium carbonate (9.94 g, 30.5 mmol) was added. After the evolution of gas ceased, methyl iodide (8.52 g, 60 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 18 hours at room temperature. Water was then added and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was separated, washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, and the solvent removed in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless oil (5.4 g, 100%° yield).

Provenance & Evidence