Ethanol → Ethyl methoxycinnamate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of trans-4-methoxycinnamic acid (18 g, 101 mmol) and concentrated H2SO4 (0.5 ml) in absolute EtOH (100 ml) was refluxed at 90° C. (bath temperature) for 16 h. After the excess EtOH was removed by a rotary evaporator, the residue was treated with H2O (100 ml), and the resulting mixture was extracted with ether (3×120 ml). The combined extracts were washed with 1N aq. NaOH (2×50 ml), H2O (80 ml) and brine (80 ml), and dried (anhydrous Na2SO4). The solvent was evaporated to dryness to give ethyl trans-4-methoxycinnamate (20 g, 96% yield) as light yellow oil, which was pure enough for the next step.

Provenance & Evidence