Methanol → Methyl 3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-nitrobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of monomethyl 3-nitroisophthalate (396.0 g, 1.76 mol) in anhydrous THF (1000 ml) was added 2.0M BMS (borane methylsulfide complex) in THF (880 ml, 1.76 mol) dropwise over 1 hour. The resulting solution was heated to reflux for 12 hours, and MeOH (750 ml) was slowly added to quench the reaction. The solution was concentrated to give a yellow solid which was recrystalized from toluene (297.5 g, 80%). 1H NMR (CDCl3): 8.71-8.70 (m, 1H), 8.41-8.40 (m, 1H), 8.31-8.30 (m, 1H), 4.86 (s, 2H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 2.47 (s, 1H); MP=76.5°-77.5° C.; DCI-MS: [M+H]=212.

Provenance & Evidence