P-Cresol → Methyl (p-tolyloxy)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of p-cresol (2 mL, 19.1 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (50 mL) were added Cs2CO3 (8.1 g, 24.9 mmol) and methyl bromoacetate (1.9 mL, 20.1 mmol). The suspension was stirred at room temperature for 3 h. After dilution with ethyl acetate, the reaction mixture was washed with a 0.5 N HCl solution, a saturated solution of NaHCO3, and brine, dried on MgSO4, and concentrated. The resulting oil was purified by chromatography on silica gel (Hexane/ethyl acetate 8/2) to afford the title compound as a colorless oil (3.10 g, 90%).

Provenance & Evidence