p-Toluenesulfonic acid → 2-Methoxyethyl alpha-hydroxylaurate

Participants

Reaction Steps

The alpha-hydroxylauric acid prepared in the foregoing manner was converted to the 2-methoxyethyl ester by refluxing a 5:1 molar ratio of 2-methoxyethanol with the acid in toluene solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount (0.3%) of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The reaction vessel was fitted with a moisture trap to remove H2O as it forms during the esterification. After water evolution was complete, the reaction mixture was water-washed and refined with 5% KOH/70:30 water:alcohol. The product was water-washed a second time, and the solvent was evaporated to yield 2-methoxyethyl alpha-hydroxylaurate.

Provenance & Evidence