Dimethylformamide → (3-(Chlorocarbonyl)-2-methylphenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-Acetoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid was slurried in methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) and treated with 1.2 equivalents of thionyl chloride and catalytic dimethylformamide. After three hours at ambient temperatures, the reaction was complete, giving a brown solution. Solvent (MTBE) was removed by vacuum distillation. Residual thionyl chloride was removed by addition of toluene followed by vacuum distillation. The resulting 3-acetoxy-2-methylbenzoyl chloride was isolated either directly as an oil or by crystallization from two volumes of heptane at <10° C. Product was obtained in >100% yield when isolated as an oil and 82-85% yield when crystallized from heptane.

Provenance & Evidence