Dimethylformamide → Methyl 2-methoxy-3-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

199.9 g (1.45 mol) of potassium carbonate is introduced into 1.5 l of dimethylformamide. At room temperature, 100 g (657.29 mmol) of 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzoic acid, dissolved in 250 ml of dimethylformamide, is added in drops. After 30 minutes of stirring, 90 ml of methyl iodide is added in drops, and the batch is stirred overnight. The reaction mixture is added to ice water and extracted three times with methyl tert-butyl ether. The organic phases are washed with water and brine. After drying, the solvent is spun off, and the residue is chromatographed on silica gel (mobile solvent: ethyl acetate/hexane). 70.21 g (59.3%) of the desired compound is isolated.

Provenance & Evidence