Water → 4-methylbenzoic acid [(R)-2-methylheptyl]ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

40 g (0.31 moles) of a commercially available (R)-2-octanol was dissolved in 100 ml of pyridine. The mixture was cooled and 47.93 g (0.31 moles) of a commercially available 4-methylbenzoic chloride was added thereto while cooling. The mixture was then allowed to react with stirring at 50° to 60° C. for 2 hours. On completion of the reaction, 300 ml of water and 300 ml of toluene were added, and after vigorous stirring, the toluene layer was separated out and washed with 6N HCl. Washing was continued until this layer was neutral. This toluene layer was dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, after which the toluene was distilled away. The residue was further subjected to evaporation under reduced pressure at 144° to 146° C. (2 mm Hg) and the distillate recovered, whereby 70.37 g of the objective 4-methylbenzoic acid [(R)-2-methylheptyl]ester was obtained.

Provenance & Evidence