Dimethyl Sulfate → 7-Methoxy-2-naphthol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium hydroxide (20 ml, 1M) and dimethyl sulfate (15.0 ml, 158 mmol) were added dropwise to a solution of 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene (6.6 g, 40 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 ml) and water (60 ml). Additional sodium hydroxide (20 ml, 1M) and dimethyl sulfate (15.0 ml, 158 mmol) were added and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The two phases were separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane twice. The combined organic extracts were washed with 1 M HCl, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated under vacuum. The crude material was purified by column chromatography (5:1 heptane/ethyl acetate) to give 2-hydroxy-7-methoxynaphthalene (2.1 g, 30%, 100% AUC HPLC): 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.66-7.70 (m, 2H), 6.94-7.08 (m, 4H), 4.90 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence