Sulfuric Acid → Methyl 2-(4-aminophenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To 4-aminophenylacetic acid (Aldrich, 5 g, 33 mmol) in 50 mL of anhydrous methanol was added 2.5 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid cautiously. The mixture was heated to reflux for 4 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and neutralized with sodium carbonate. The volatiles were evaporated on a rotoevaporator and the residue triturated with chloroform (80 mL) and saturated sodium bicarbonate (100 mL). The chloroform layer was separated and filtered through a small pack of silica gel. The solvent was evaporated and the residue purified through vacuum distillation at 130°-150° C. to give 2.7 g (50%) of methyl 4-aminophenylacetate as a light brown syrup.

Provenance & Evidence