Hydroxyphenylacetic acid → Benzeneacetic acid, 4-hydroxy-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 37 g. of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 370 ml. of methanol and 0.1 ml. of sulfuric acid is refluxed for 6 hours, cooled, poured into ice water, and extracted with methylene chloride. The organic extract is washed with water to neutrality, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness under vacuo, to yield methyl 4-hydroxyphenylacetate.

Provenance & Evidence