P-Cresol → Ethyl (p-tolyloxy)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In 70 ml of acetone were suspended 5.00 g of p-cresol, 7.72 g of ethyl bromoacetate and 6.39 g of potassium carbonate, and the resulting mixture was refluxed for 12 hours. After the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, water was added to the mixture, followed by extraction with methylene chloride. The organic phase was washed with in aqueous 2N sodium hydroxide solution and then with saturated sodium chloride solution, which was then dried over magnesium sulfate. On evaporation of the solvent under reduced pressure, 8.67 g of ethyl 4-methylphenoxyacetate was produced.

Provenance & Evidence