Water → Methyl 2-(2'-benzyloxyphenyl)-3-hydroxyacrylate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of methyl 2-benzyloxyphenylacetate (26.99 g) and methyl formate (126.62 g) in dry DMF (300 ml) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of sodium hydride (50% disp. in oil, 10.13 g) in DMF (300 ml) at 0° C. After stirring at 0° C. for two hours the mixture was poured into water (1000 ml) and washed with ether (2×150 ml). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH4 with 6M hydrochloric acid then extracted with ether (2×350 ml). The extracts were dried and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford crude methyl 2-[2'-benzyloxyphenyl]-3-hydroxyacrylate as a yellow oil, infrared max. (film): 1720, 1660 cm-1.

Provenance & Evidence