Methanol → Methyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Thionyl chloride (3.1 ml, 42.5 mmol) was added slowly to methanol (30 ml) with stirring under cooling with a Dry Ice/methanol bath. After allowing the reaction to warm to room temperature, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (5 g, 27.7 mmol) was added and stirred for an additional 1 hour. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate. The solution was washed twice with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate, then once with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride. After drying over unhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to produce a pale yellow crystal in an amount of 5.29 g (yield, 98%).

Provenance & Evidence