Methanol → Methyl indole-6-carboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 1H-indole-6-carboxylic acid (10 g) in methanol (300 mL) was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid (0.5 mL) then heated on a steam bath for 10 hours. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue partitioned between saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (150 mL) and dichloromethane (150 mL). The aqueous layer was further extracted twice with dichloromethane (150 mL). The combined organics were dried over sodium sulfate then evaporated. The residue was subjected to flash chromatography on silica eluting with a mixture of ethyl acetate and pentane (7:3, v/v) to give the title compound (7.4 g) as a white solid, m.p. 79-81° C. MS: 176 (MH+).

Provenance & Evidence