Methyl phenylacetate → Ethyl phenylacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Following method A, phenylacetic acid methyl ester (4.51 g, 30 mmol) and LiBr (13.03 g, 150 mmol) were dissolved in ethanol (150 ml). DBU (2.28 g, 15 mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was agitated at room temperature for an hour. It was then hydrolysed and processed as described. Vacuum distillation yielded 4.40 g (90% of the theoretical yield) of pure phenylacetic acid ethyl ester, b.p. 65.5-66° C./l Torr.

Provenance & Evidence