Methanol → 3-(Benzyloxy)benzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of methyl 3-benzyloxybenzoate (23.9 g; 0.099 mol), potassium hydroxide (8.42 g; 0.15 mol) and methanol (100 cm3) was stirred at room temperature until a small sample in water gave a clear solution (˜18 hrs). The solution was then evaporated to dryness and the colourless solid residue dissolved in water (100 cm3) and the resulting stirred solution was acidified slowly with 50% sulphuric acid (30 cm3). After stirring for ˜30 minutes, the crystalline precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried in vacuo at 40° to give the title compound as a colourless powder.

Provenance & Evidence