Methyl Thioglycolate → Methyl [[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]thio]acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4,4'-dimethoxybenzhydrol (Aldrich) (300 mg, 1.23 mmol) and methyl thioglycolate (123 mg, 1.35 mmol) in 6 mL of 10% methanolic HCl is heated at reflux for 45 minutes. The reaction is cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate, brine and dried over magnesium sulfate. The product is concentrated in vacuo to give methyl [[bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]thio]acetate as a colorless oil in 73% yield.

Provenance & Evidence