Benzene → Methyl 2-(methylthio)-2-phenylacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In a round-bottom glass flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar methyl 2-chloro-2-(methylthio)acetate (1.3 g, 1 equiv) was dissolved in benzene (20 mL) and aluminum chloride (3.36 g, 2.8 equiv) added in one portion and heated to reflux for 3 hours. The mixture was then cooled and washed with H2O, brine, and dried over MgSO4. The organic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a yellow oil that was used without further purification (0.56 g, 35%).

Provenance & Evidence