Methanol → Methyl 3,5-difluorobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3,5-difluorobenzoic acid (10 gm, 63.2 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) was added oxalyl chloride (11.96 gm, 94.9 mmol) at 0° C. followed by addition of dimethylformamide (2 mL). The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for about 3 hours at room temperature. Methanol (100 mL) was added to the reaction mass and stirring was continued further for 20-30 minutes. Solvents were evaporated to obtain an oily mass which was further purified by column chromatography over silica gel (100-200) using ethyl acetate/hexane gradient elution to afford colorless methyl 3,5-difluorobenzoate (10 gm, 91.91%).

Provenance & Evidence