Acetone → Methyl 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)propanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a mixture of 4-nitrophenol (90 g), potassium carbonate (268 g), potassium iodide (10 g) and disodium phosphate (10 g) in anhydrous acetone (900 ml) was added methyl 2-chloro propionate (95 g). The reaction mixture was stirred and refluxed for 24 hours. Acetone was distilled off and water (1.5 liter) was added to the reaction mixture. Crude 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)-propionic acid methyl ester was filtered, dried and recrystallised from methanol to obtain pure 2-(4-nitrophenoxy)-propionic acid methyl ester (80 g) as a white powder. The product was characterized by 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.70 (d, 3H, CH3), 3.78 (s, 3H, Ester), 4.85 (q, 1H, CH), 6.92 (d, 2H, Ar), 8.20 (d, 2H, Ar). The product has a melting point of 83-84° C.

Provenance & Evidence