Chloroacetic Acid → (2-Hydroxymethyl-phenoxy)-acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (0.5 mol), α-chloroacetic acid (0.5 mol) and solid sodium hydroxide (1.0 mol) in water (1L) is heated at reflux for 6 h. After this time the solution is cooled to ambient temperature and acidified to pH 4 with a 10% solution of hydrogen chloride in water. The product crystalizes from the acidified solution and is isolated and dried by filtration to give 2-Carboxymethoxybenzylalcohol which is used directly in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence