Thionyl Chloride → Methyl 4-(chloromethyl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of p-methoxycarbonylbenzyl alcohol (332.0 g, 2.0 mol) in methylene chloride (600 mL) is added thionyl chloride (380 g, 3.2 mol) dropwise over 3 hours and the reaction mixture heated at gentle reflux for 6 hours, allowing excess gases to escape. The excess thionyl chloride and methylene chloride are removed and the yellow oil triturated with hexane to yield a total of 300 g (81.5% yield) of white, solid methyl α-chloro-p-toluate, the identity of which is confirmed by elemental analysis and mass spectrum analysis as follows:

Provenance & Evidence