Thionyl Chloride → Methyl 5-cyano-2-methoxybenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Combine methyl 2-methoxy-5-formylbenzoate oxime (3.5 g, 16.7 mmol) in dichloromethane (75 mL) and cool in an ice-bath. Add dropwise thionyl chloride (2.0 mL, 27.2 mmol). After 20 minutes, dilute the reaction mixture with dichloromethane and extract with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate and then brine. Dry the organic layer over MgSO4, filter, and concentrate in vacuo to give a residue. Chromatograph the residue on silica gel eluting with 1/1 ethyl acetate/hexane to give methyl 2-methoxy-5-cyanobenzoate.

Provenance & Evidence