Ethylene Glycol → Methyl 3-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 3-formyl-benzoic acid methyl ester (9.48 g, 57.8 mmol), ethylene glycol (8.97 g, 144.5 mmol, 2.5 eq.) and conc. sulfuric acid (0.18 g, 1.8 mmol) in toluene was heated under Dean-Stark reflux for 3 hrs. After cooling, satd. NaHCO3 (100 ml) was added. The aqueous phase was extracted with EtOAc, the combined organic phases were dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated to afford the title compound (12.1 g, 101% yield) as a yellow liquid. MS: m/e=164 (M+).

Provenance & Evidence