2-Methylbenzoic acid → 5-Bromo-2-methylbenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of o-toluic acid (28 g, 206 mmol), iron powder (0.74 g, 13 mmol), and Br2 (42 g, 260 mmol) were stirred at 0° for 2 hr. At this point the reaction, which had proceeded ˜40%, was diluted with 25 mL of CH2Cl2 to facilitate stirring. The reaction was then heated at 45° for 16 hr to drive to completion. Upon cooling, the reaction was diluted with CH2Cl2, washed 2× with 10% NaHSO3, 1× with brine prior to drying over Na2SO4. After removal of the volatiles, the residue comprising a 2:1 mixture of 5-bromo to 3-bromotoluic acid was recrystallized from 95% EtOH to yield 14.4 g of 5-bromo-2-methylbenzoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence