Sulfuric Acid → Methyl Acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To this solution was added with stirring sufficient anhydrous H2SO4 to neutralize the NaOH and render the solution slightly acidic. Under these conditions the N-acetyl-D,L-methionine was converted to N-acetyl-D,L-methionine methyl ester. The remaining methanol and methyl acetate (formed from the reaction of residual acetic acid and acetic anhydride with NaOH) was removed by warming the mixture under vacuum. The remaining mixture was slurried with chloroform and filtered to removed sodium sulfate salts. The ester-chloroform solution was then water washed to remove any remaining salts. The resulting ester-chloroform solution was then warmed under vacuum to remove the chloroform. The resulting material was N-acetyl-D,L-methionine methyl ester.

Provenance & Evidence