Methanol → Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, 4-(hydroxymethyl)-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

4-Benzyloxymethyl-cyclohexanecarbaldehyde (1.70 g, 2.0 mmol) is dissolved in acetic acid (0.24 mL) and 2 mL of MeOH. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0-5° C. and stirred while 10% NaOCl solution (2.5 mL, 4 mmol) is added dropwise over 20 minutes. The cooling bath is removed and the mixture is allowed to come to room temperature. After addition of saturated aqueous NaHCO3, the aqueous layer is extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layer (dried with MgSO4) is concentrated. The desired product, 4-benzyloxymethyl-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid methyl ester, is obtained (343 mg, 65%) after purification using silica gel column chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/hexane).

Provenance & Evidence