Methanol → Methyl 2-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4-(methanesulfonyl)phenyl acetic acid (43.63 g, 0.204 mol) in methanol (509 mL) was treated slowly with concentrated sulfuric acid (2 mL). The resulting reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 19 h. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25° C. and then concentrated in vacuo to remove methanol. The residue was diluted with ethyl acetate (800 mL). The organic phase was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (1×200 mL), washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (1×200 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo. Flash chromatography (Merck Silica gel 60, 70-230 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/ethyl acetate) afforded 4-(methanesulfonyl)phenyl acetic acid methyl ester (45.42 g, 98%) as a yellow oil which solidified to a cream colored solid upon sitting over time at 25° C.: mp 78-80° C.; EI-HRMS m/e calcd for C10H12O4S (M+) 228.0456, found 228.0451.

Provenance & Evidence