Methanol → Methyl 3-bromobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 3-bromobenzoic acid (50 g, 248.73 mmol, 1.00 equiv.) in methanol (500 mL) and 98% sulfuric acid (5 mL) was heated at reflux for about 15 hours. After cooling to ambient temperature, the solution was concentrated in vacuo and water (300 mL) was added to the resulting residue. The pH of the solution was adjusted to about 9 by adding sodium carbonate. Standard extractive workup with dichloromethane (3×200 mL) gave a residue that was then dried in an oven to give the title product as an off-white solid (49.5 g; yield=92.5%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ: 8.20 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.97-8.01 (m, 1H), 7.69-7.73 (m, 1H), 7.32 (t, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence