Ethanol → 2-Ethoxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

5-Methoxysalicylic acid (2.00 g) was suspended in ethanol (28 ml), and thionyl chloride (2.11 g) was gradually added dropwise to the suspension. Thereafter, the mixture was heated under reflux for 2 hr. The solvent was removed therefrom by distillation under the reduced pressure. Water was added to the residue, and the mixture was neutralized with a 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and was then extracted with chloroform. The chloroform layer was then washed with water and saturated brine and was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed therefrom by distillation under the reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by column chromatography using acetone-hexane to give ethyl 5-methoxysalicylic acid (1.37 g, yield 58%).

Provenance & Evidence