Sodium Hydroxide → 2,5-Dimethyl-3-furoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3.2 g of ethyl 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxylate, 35 ml of ethanol and 20 ml of 2 N sodium hydroxide was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours followed by heating under reflux for an hour. After the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, it was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in water and acidified with diluted sulfuric acid. Precipitated crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and dried to give 2.27 g of 2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxylic acid in a 85% yield.

Provenance & Evidence