Hydrogen Peroxide → Isovanillic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Methanol (350 ml), isovanillin (50 gm) and 30% methanolic sodium hydroxide solution (1 ml), were heated to 45° C. To this solution, 35% hydrogen peroxide solution (107 ml) was charged slowly maintaining pH at 10.5 to 11.5 using methanolic sodium hydroxide solution over a period of 2-3 hours. The reaction mass was quenched into chilled water (1 lt) and the pH adjusted to 2-3 using hydrochloric acid. The solids were filtered, washed with 50% aqueous methanol (50 ml) and dried at 45-50° C. to yield 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence