Sulfuric Acid → 4β-tert-Butylcyclohexane-1α-carboxylic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

In 630 g of methanol was dissolved 203 g of 4-tert-butylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid. The solution was combined with 0.54 g of conc. sulfuric acid and heated under reflux for 72 hours. The reaction solution was allowed to cool to room temperature, 18 g of 2.5 wt % sodium hydroxide/methanol mixture was added, and the solvent was distilled off in vacuum from the reaction solution. The crude oil was purified by vacuum distillation, obtaining 207 g of methyl 4-tert-butylcyclohexanecarboxylate as colorless liquid (yield 95%, isomer ratio 76:24).

Provenance & Evidence