Methanol → Methyl phenylacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Dissolved 13 g (0.1 mol) of phenylacetic acid in 500 ml of anhydrous methanol. Introduced HC1 gas, while refluxing for 3 hours. The solvent was then removed by evaporation. Dissolved the ester in benzene, which was successively washed with water and 10% NaOH. The organic layer was dehydrated with anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was again removed by evaporation. Methyl phenylacetate was finally purified by column chromatography employing silica gel chloroform system. The solvent was removed by evaporation to yield yellowish liquid. Yield, 6 g (40% ).

Provenance & Evidence