Methanol → 3-Cyclopentyl-2-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 3-cyclopentyl-2-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid (7.77 g, 25.3 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) was treated slowly with concentrated sulfuric acid (0.01 mL). The resulting reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 24 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25° C. and then concentrated in vacua. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (75 mL) and washed with a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (1×50 mL), water (1×50 mL), and a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (4×50 mL). The organics were dried over magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to afford 3-cyclopentyl-2-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-propionic acid methyl ester (8.48 g, 87.5%) as yellow oil: EI-HRMS m/e calcd for C16H18F4O2 (M+) 318.1243, found 318.1240.

Provenance & Evidence