Dimethyl Sulfate → Benzoic acid, 2,3,4,5-tetrachloro-6-cyano-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A reaction vessel is charged in succession with 360 g of water, 475 g of methyl ethyl ketone and 307 g (1.0 mole) of the sodium salt (dry) of 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-2-cyanobenzoic acid. With stirring, the mixture is heated to 72°-74° C. and to the suspension so obtained are added, at this temperature and over 1 hour, 189 g of dimethyl sulfate (1.5 moles), while keeping the pH at 5.0-5.5 by the gradual addition of 66 g (0.5 mole) of 30% sodium hydroxide solution. The reaction mixture is then stirred for 1 hour at reflux temperature (72°-74° C.). Conventional working up affords a yield of 93% of theory of methyl 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-2-cyanobenzoate, based on the sodium salt of 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-2-cyanobenzoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence