Hydrochloric Acid → Methyl Gentisate

Participants

Reaction Steps

2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (30 g) was added to methanol (100 ml) which had been acidified with hydrogen chloride gas. The solution was refluxed for 12 hours when the solvent was removed. The resulting solid was taken up in diethyl ether (200 ml) and washed with water (2×100 ml). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulphate and the solvent removed under vacuum. The resulting solid (30 g) (m.p. 83°-84° C.) was identified as the desired methyl ester.

Provenance & Evidence