Sodium Methoxide → Methyl 4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

1.00 g of methyl 4-[(acetyloxy)methyl]-3-methylbenzoate was dissolved in 10 mL of methanol, to which a solution of 0.365 g of sodium methoxide in 7 mL of methanol was added dropwise at 5 to 7° C., and this solution was stirred for 30 minutes at 50° C. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, followed by successive addition of ethyl acetate and water, and then the organic phase was separated therefrom. After the resultant organic phase was washed with water and a saturated sodium chloride solution, the washed phase was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was distilled out under reduced pressure to yield 0.79 g of methyl 4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methylbenzoate as yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence