Dichloromethane → Methyl 2-formylbenzoate

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Reaction Steps

To a 3-neck 1-liter round-bottom flask equipped with a magnetic stirrer, reflux condenser and addition funnel was added 2-carboxybenzaldehyde (100.00 g, 0.659 moles), dimethylsulfate (162.8 g 1.291 moles) and 200 ml of dichloromethane under nitrogen. The mixture was heated to reflux and triethylamine (135.89 g, 1.343 moles) was added at such a rate to maintain a brisk reflux. After the addition was complete, the solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and stirred overnight. Water (400 ml) was then added and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane (1×200 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (1×400 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a golden oil. Vacuum distillation of this oil gave 88.7 g of the product as a pale yellow oil, bp 95°-98° C./0.4 mm.

Provenance & Evidence