Sulfuric Acid → 3-Hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic Acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a cold (0° C.) suspension of 0.54 g (3.3 mmol) of 2-methyl-3-aminobenzoic acid in 5 mL of water containing 0.65 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid, was added 0.25 g (3.6 mmol) of solid sodium nitrite. After approximately 15 minutes the reaction mixture was poured into 20 mL of warm water containing 4 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid. The resultant reaction mixture was heated slowly to 90° C., resulting in gas evolution. After the gas evolution ceased, the solution was cooled to room temperature and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined, washed with 0.5N hydrochloric acid, dried and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude residue was purified by rapid filtration through silica gel (eluent of 5% methanol in methylene chloride) to yield 350 mg of a white solid (m.p. 137°-138° C.).

Provenance & Evidence