Methane → 4-(Trifluoromethyl)phthalic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Methyl 2-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-benzoate (102.3 g.), sodium hydroxide pellets (108 g.), water (900 cc.) and methanol (1,900 cc.) are heated to the reflux temperature for 12 hours. The solution is decolorised by means of animal charcoal (0.6 g.). After filtration, hydrochloric acid (d = 1.19) (100 cc.) is added. The mixture is extracted with ethyl ether (2.25 liters). The organic layer is dried over anhydrous magnesium sulphate (40 g.). After filtering, and concentrating the filtrate, 4-trifluoromethyl-phthalic acid (99.1 g.) melting at 178° C is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence