Methanol → Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-nitro-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-Hydroxy-3-nitrobenzoic acid (10.0 g, 54.6 mmol) was suspended in methanol (60 mL). After addition of conc. sulfuric acid (0.1 mL), the suspension was heated overnight under reflux. The methanol was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (40 mL), washed successively with aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (20 mL×2) and saturated aqueous brine (20 mL), and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, to give 6.27 g (yield 58%) of the desired compound in the form of a pale brown crystalline product.

Provenance & Evidence