Hydrochloric Acid → 1-(Methoxymethyl)-2-nitrobenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

125 g of 30% strength sodium methylate solution (0.69 mol) in methanol are added dropwise to 130 g (0.6 mol) of o-nitrobenzyl bromide in 200 ml of methanol. During this procedure, the reaction mixture heats up to about 50° C. Stirring is continued for a further 3 hours, the reaction mixture being cooled to room temperature, after which ice water is added to the reaction vessel and the reaction mixture is neutralized by adding dilute hydrochloric acid. The aqueous phase is extracted with three times with ether, and the organic phase is dried over MgSO4 and evaporated down. 101 g (0.6 mol, quantitative yield) of the title compound are obtained as a residue in the form of a brownish oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3 ; δ (ppm)): 8.1 (d, broad, 1H, aromatic); 7.8 (d, broad, 1H, aromatic); 7.5 (t, broad, 1H, aromatic); 7.45 (t, broad, 1H, aromatic); 4.85 (s, 2H, O--CH2); 3.5 (s, 3H, OCH3)

Provenance & Evidence