Sodium Hydroxide → 2-Methyl-3-furoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-Methyl-3-furancarboxylic acid ethyl ester (10 g) was dissolved in ethanol (70 ml), and 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide (78 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in water and washed with diethyl ether. The aqueous layer was acidified with 1N hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. Precipitated crystals were collected by filtration to give 2-methyl-3-furancarboxylic acid (5.5 g) as crystals.

Provenance & Evidence