Formaldehyde → Methyl 3-hydroxy-2-phenylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A three necked one-liter flask equipped with a drying tube, a thermometer and a stopper was flame-dried, cooled and then charged with sodium bicarbonate (2.1 g; 0.025 mole), paraformaldehyde (34.74 g; 1.1 mole) and 300 mL of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The air in the flask was purged with dry nitrogen and methyl phenylacetate (150:18 g; 1 mole) was added in one portion. Residual ester was washed into the flask using dry DMSO (5 mL). The slurry was then stirred magnetically (initial temperature 22°-23° C.) and the temperature rose slowly over one hour to 33° C. The temperature remained at about 32°-33° C. for 1.5 hrs. at which time the reaction liquid was almost a clear solution. The temperature was then raised to 45°-46° C. over 30 min. and kept at this temperature for 12 hrs. The solution was then allowed to cool and left at room temperature for 9 hrs. The reaction mixture was clear and essentially colorless with only a small amount of a white solid appearing at the bottom of the flask. NMR analysis of the solution indicated approximately an 80% yield of methyl tropate.

Provenance & Evidence