Ethanol → Ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (2.0 g, 13 mmol) in absolute ethanol (20 mL) was added sulfuric acid (2.0 mL, 37 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 90° C. for 16 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature then diluted with water (20 mL). The mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (2×50 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum to give ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoate (116a, 2.4 g, 99% yield) as yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence