Methanol → Methyl 2-(3-methyl-4-fluorophenyl)-5-fluorobenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Potassium hydroxide (6 g) and water (50 mL) were added to a solution of methyl 2-(3-methyl-4-fluorophenyl)-5-fluorobenzoate (10.2 g, 40.0 mmol) in methanol (150 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was then evaporated to near dryness, acidified with 1N aqueous hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated to leave a residue which was chromatographed on silica gel using 30% ethyl acetate in hexane to provide 9.7 g of the acid.

Provenance & Evidence