Benzoic Acid → Ethyl benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a flask were added 6.1 g of benzoic acid and 40 ml of anhydrous ethanol, to which 2 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid was added slowly and dropwise with stirring. The mixture was heated under reflux for 6 hours, and then cooled to room temperature. The solvent was distilled under reduced pressure and the residue was diluted with 30 ml of ethyl acetate and 25 ml of water. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (30 ml×2) and the organic layers were combined, washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution to neutral and then with saturated NaCl, dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and filtrated. The solvent was distilled under reduced pressure to give ethyl benzoate.

Provenance & Evidence