Protocatechuic Acid → 3,4-Bis(benzyloxy)benzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (25.4 g, 0.17 mole) in ethanol (250 ml), 5N NaOH aq. (270 ml) and benzyl chloride (102 g, 0.81 mole) were added, and the mixture was reacted with stirring for 6 hours under reflux. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, allowed to stand at same temperature overnight and acidified with conc. hydrochloric acid (40 ml). The precipitate was filtered, washed with hot ethanol and dried under reduced pressure to give 38.2 g of 3,4-dibenzyloxybenzoic acid as pale yellow crystals having a m.p. of 184°-186° C.

Provenance & Evidence