epsilon-CAPROLACTONE → Hexanoic acid, 6-hydroxy-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 10.6 ml (0.1 mol) e-caprolactone and 1.97 g (0.015 mol) potassium carbonate in 50 ml methanol is stirred for one hour at room temperature, then the potassium carbonate is removed by filtration and the mother liquor is evaporated to dryness in a vacuum. The residue is taken up in 20 ml saturated ammonium chloride solution and the solution is extracted three times with 50 ml diethyl ether each time. After drying the combined organic phases over sodium sulfate and removing the solvent, 12.2 g 6-hydroxycaproic acid methyl ester is obtained which is reacted further without additional purification.

Provenance & Evidence