Thionyl Chloride → Methyl 2-(4'-chloromethylphenyl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

2.0 g (8.25 mmol) of methyl 2-(4'-hydroxymethylphenyl)benzoate was dissolved in 1.31 g of pyridine and methylene chloride (20 ml). 1.47 g (12.4 mmol) of thionyl chloride was dropwise added thereto at room temperature, followed by stirring as such for 16 hours and under reflux by heating for 5 hours. After the reaction liquid was cooled and concentrated, a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate was added thereto, followed by the extraction with methylene chloride. The organic phase was washed with water, dried and subjected to vacuum concentration. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (a n-hexane/ethyl acetate system) to give 1.89 g of the title compound as an oil (yield 88%).

Provenance & Evidence