4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid → 4-(Benzyloxy)benzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

138 g. (1 mole) of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was dissolved in 1 liter of 95% ethanol and 500 ml. of 2N sodium hydroxide solution. To this solution was added 346 ml. (3 mole) of benzyl chloride and the mixture was boiled under reflux. 1 liter of 5N sodium hydroxide was added dropwise over a period of 2 hours and the mixture heated a further hour with stirring. The solvent was distilled to half its volume, 2 liters of water added, the warm aqueous solution acidified with hydrochloric acid and the precipitated product recrystallised from 80% ethanol, m.p. 188°C.

Provenance & Evidence