Hydrochloric Acid → Methyl 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Hydrogen chloride was bubbled for 15 minutes into a solution of 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-propionic acid (10.0 g, 60 mmol) in 100 mL of methanol at room temperature. The vessel was sealed and then stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was made basic by the addition of 5% NaHCO3 and then concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the methanol. The residue was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was extracted with saturated NaCl, dried (MgSO4) and the solvent removed under reduced pressure to give 2-hydroxy-3-phenyl-propionic acid methyl ester (9.7 g, 90%) as a yellow oil, MS m/z 180 [M]+.

Provenance & Evidence