Methanol → Methyl 4-chloro-2-hydroxybenzoate

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 4-chloro-2-hydroxybenzoic acid (200 g, 1.16 mol) and 40 ml conc. sulfuric acid in 400 ml of methanol was heated under reflux for 20 1/2 hours. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue poured into aqueous saturated Na2CO3, and then extracted with ethyl ether (3×500 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, and evaporated to give 2f (191.6 g, 88.6% yield) as an oil. This was used for the next reaction without purification. IR (neat) 3150 (OH), 1728 (C=0), and 1678 (C=0) cm-1. NMR (CDCl3) δ 10.27 (br s, 1H, OH), 7.47 (d, 1H, JBC =8 Hz, HC), 6.80 (d, 1H, JAB =2 Hz, HA), 6.63 (d of d, 1H, HB), and 3.85 (s, 3H, CH3).

Provenance & Evidence