Methanol → Benzeneacetic acid, alpha-ethyl-, methyl ester

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Reaction Steps

To 102 g. of 2-phenylbutyric acid dissolved in 1 liter of methanol was added 2 ml of thionyl chloride. The solution was allowed to stand at room temperature overnight. The solvent was removed in vacuo to yield an oil which was dissolved in diethyl ether, washed successively with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, and concentrated in vacuo. Distillation yielded 101 g of the title compound as a water-white oil, b.p. 62°-65°/0.5 mm, having the following elemental analysis:

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