Sulfuric Acid → Methyl 5-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 0° C. solution of sulfuric acid (89 g, 908 mmol) in water (700 mL) was added to a flask containing methyl 5-amino-2-methylbenzoate (50 g, 303 mmol) in an ice-water bath. The resulting mixture was stirred until the mixture become a cloudy solution. A solution of sodium nitrite (21 g, 303 mmol) in cold water (200 mL) was added dropwise and stirring was continued for 1 h at 0° C. then at 100° C. for another 1 h. The reaction was cooled and the solid collected by filtration, and rinsed with water. The resultant dark red solid was re-dissolved in MeOH (500 mL). Charcoal (2 g) was added and the reaction was heated at reflux for 1 h. The mixture was filtered and concentrated. Chromatography over silica eluting with 0-50% EtOAc/hexane afforded the title compound as white solid. LC-MS: calculated for C9H10O3 166.17, observed m/e: no ionization (Rt 0.89/2 min). NMR (CDCl3): 7.48 (1H, s), 7.15 (1H, d); 6.95 (1H, d), 6.04 (1H, s); 3.95 (3H, s); 2.53 (3H, s).

Provenance & Evidence