O-Cresol → Acetic acid, 2-methylphenyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

First 235.5 g (3.3 moles) acetyl chloride then 282.8 g (2.8 moles) triethylamine are added dropwise to a mixture of 324 g (3 moles) o-cresol and 36.6 g (0.3 mole) 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 1 liter of toluene. The mixture is then heated for 3 h at 65° C. The resulting solid hydrochloride is separated by filtration and the organic phase is washed twice with 1 N hydrochloric acid then with water. The solution is dried and then the solvent is recovered under vacuum. The remaining oil is distilled under vacuum. It has a boiling point of 87° C. at 12 Torr. The yield is 428.8 g.

Provenance & Evidence