Sulfuric Acid → tert-Butyl 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzoic acid (10.0 g), concentrated sulfuric acid (1 ml), and condensed isobutylene (200 ml) in methylene chloride (200 ml) was placed in a pressure vessel and stirred for 16 hours. The vessel was then opened to vent unreacted isobutylene. The remaining liquid was poured into 10% (w/v) sodium hydroxide solution (150 ml) and extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with 1:9 ethyl acetate:hexane, to give t-butyl 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzoate (9.1 g, 70%) as a colorless oil; NMR (80 MHz, CDCl3): 1.6[s, 9H, C(CH3)3 ], 2.27(s, 3H, CH3), 3.86(s, 3H, OCH3), 7.11(d, 1H), 7.49(m, 2H).

Provenance & Evidence