Acetyl chloride → Methyl 2-(4-formylphenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Acetyl chloride (5 mL) was added to an ice-cooled solution of 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylacetic acid (5.78 g, 34.8 mmol) in methanol (200 mL). The reaction mixture allowed to warm to RT and stirred at this temperature for 42 hours. The solvent was evaporated at reduced pressure and the residue dissolved in DCM (100 mL). Manganese dioxide (29.47 g, 339 mmol) was added and the resultant suspension stirred at RT for 18 hours. The suspension was filtered through celite and the filter cake washed with further DCM. The solvent was evaporated at reduced pressure and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography eluting with 0-25% ethyl acetate in iso-hexane to afford the title compound (1.72 g, 28%).

Provenance & Evidence