Sodium Hydroxide → (RS)-phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-acetic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

(RS)-Phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-acetamide (0.340 g, 1.60 mmol) was dissolved in 5 ml of a saturated solution of HCl/methanol and refluxed for 6 h in a closed vessel. The mixture is poured on 25 g of ice, the pH is adjusted to 8-9 by cautious addition of 28% sodium hydroxide solution keeping the temperature below 10° C. and the product is extracted with ethyl acetate/water. After drying (MgSO4) and concentration, the crude material is purified by flash chromatography on silicagel using 1:4 mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane as eluant to yield 0.204 g (0.939 mmol, 59%) of (RS)-phenyl-pyridin-2-yl-acetic acid methyl ester as a white solid, m.p. 74° C. and MS: m/e=228.2 (M+H+).

Provenance & Evidence