Methanol → Isooctanoic acid, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

2 g concentrated sulfuric acid were added to a solution of 32 g (1 mol) methanol and 144 g (1 mol) "isooctanoic acid" (isomeric mixture from Ruhrchemie A. G. Oberhausen) in 200 ml toluene and heated to boiling with hater separation until the equimolar amount of water separates (about 2 hours). After cooling it was washed with water and then with 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The remaining end-product after distillation over a 15 cm Vigreux column gave 150 g (95%) isooctanoic acid methylester as an easily mobile liquid with a fruity smell.

Provenance & Evidence