Ethanol → Benzoic acid, 3-fluoro-4-methyl-, ethyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3-fluoro-4-methylbenzoic acid (7.707 g, 50.00 mmol) in ethanol (35 ml) was added concentrated sulfuric acid (1.5 ml), and the mixture was heated under reflux for 6 hrs. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C., iced water and saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate were added, and the mixture was extracted twice with diethyl ether. The combined organic layer was washed twice with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate and once with saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure to give ethyl 3-fluoro-4-methylbenzoate (8.599 g, yield 94.4%) as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence