Water → 5-(Methoxymethyl)pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 25% sodium methoxide in methanol (270 g, 1.25 mol) and [(5,6-dicarboxy-3-pyridyl)methyl]trimethylammonium bromide, dimethyl ester (347 g, 1.00 mol) in methanol (650 mL) is heated at reflux for 1 hour under nitrogen. Water (1 L) and sodium hydroxide (80.0 g, 2.0 mol) are added and the reaction mixture is distilled until the pot is 100°-105° C. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, treated with sulfuric acid to adjust the pH to a value from 1.5 to 2 and filtered to obtain a solid. The solid is washed with water and dried in a vacuum oven to obtain the title product as a white solid (mp 161°-162° C.) which is greater than 99% pure by HPLC analysis.

Provenance & Evidence