Methanol → Methyl 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 67 g (0.38 moles) of 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 1.5 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid, and 250 ml of methanol was refluxed overnight, i.e., about 18 hours. The excess methanol was removed by vacuum to give a thick tawny oil. This oil was dissolved in ether, twice washed with water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate. The ethereal solution was filtered, the ether removed and a tawny oil remained. Using as solvent 2.5% v/v methanol in chloroform and a silica gel matrix, thin-layer chromotography showed that the oil was essentially homogeneous, there being only a trace impurity present at the origin, which is believed to be unreacted acid. This oil was satisfactory for use as the starting material for forming the ether of Example 1B.

Provenance & Evidence