Nitric Acid → Methyl 4-ethoxy-5-methoxy-2-nitrobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of methyl 4-ethoxy-3-methoxybenzoate (7.12 g, 33.9 mmol) and acetic anhydride (40 mL) in acetic acid (40 mL) at room temperature was dropped fume nitric acid (90%, 3.15 g). After stirring at room temperature for 15 minutes, it was heated at 50° C. for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was poured into ice and a solid was formed. It was filtered, washed with water, and dried under vacuum with P2O5 to give methyl 4-ethoxy-5-methoxy-2-nitrobenzoate as white solid (8.392 g, 97%). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.44 (s, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 4.19 (q, 2H), 3.98 (s, 3H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 1.52 (t, 3H); LC-MS (ESI) m/z 256 (M+H)+.

Provenance & Evidence