Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride → Methyl 2-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy-4-methylbenzoate

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Reaction Steps

Triflic anhydride (170 ml; 1.01 mol) was added to a solution of methyl 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoate (153 g; 0.92 mol) in pyridine (1.5 l), at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. After evaporation of the pyridine, the residue was acidified to pH 3.5 with 6N HCl and extracted with ether. The organic phase was evaporated and the residue purified by flash chromatography eluting with a gradient of 0-5% ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to give methyl 2-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy-4-methylbenzoate (245 g; 90%).

Provenance & Evidence