Sodium Methoxide → Ethyl (4-hydroxy-2-methylphenoxy)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of ethyl 2-(4-acetoxy-2-methylphenoxy)acetate (684) (6.79 g, 27 mmol) in dry methanol (150 mL) was added sodium methoxide (1.1 eq.) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature under N2 for 3 hours. The reaction was quenched with 1M HCl and the volatiles were removed in vacuo. The oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate (100 mL) and washed with water (2×100 mL), and brine (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to afforded ethyl 2-(4-hydroxy-2-methylphenoxy)acetate (685) as a white solid (77%).

Provenance & Evidence