Protocatechuic Acid → Ethyl 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture which contained 43 g (0.28 mole) of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 300 ml of ethanol and 0.5 ml of concentrated H2SO4 was refluxed for 48 hours. Water was trapped with 3 Å molecular sieves. The reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness in vacuo, and partitioned between ether and 5% NaHCO3 solution. The ether layer was evaporated to give 39 g (69% ) of solid; m.p. 128°-130° C. The NMR and IR spectra were consistent with the assigned structure.

Provenance & Evidence