Methanol → Methyl 1H-indole-2-carboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To 300 ml of a methanol solution of 30.0 g (186.2 mmol) of 2-indolecarboxylic acid was dropwise added 44.3 g (372.3 mmol) of thionyl chloride at 0° C. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 2 hours and the solvent was then distilled off under reduced pressure. Ice water was poured onto the resulting residue. The mixture was made basic by the addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide. The mixture was extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was then distilled off under reduced pressure to give 32.34 g (99.2%) of methyl 2-indolecarboxylate.

Provenance & Evidence