Benzoic Acid → Methyl Benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Concentrated sulfuric acid (3.4 mL) was added drop-wise to an ice cold mixture of 3-methanesulfanyl benzoic acid (5.0 g, 30 mmol) and methanol (30 mL). After the addition was complete, the reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature, then stirred overnight. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The resulting oil was diluted with ethyl acetate, and then washed with water followed by saturated sodium bicarbonate. The organic phase was dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated to give 5.4 g of 3-methanesulfanyl benzoic acid methyl ester as a clear oil. This crude product was used in subsequent steps without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence