Dimethyl Phthalate → Monomethyl phthalate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Dimethyl phthalate (15.73 mmol) is stirred for 24 hours at ambient temperature in 60 ml of ethanol with 15.73 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide solution. The solvent is evaporated off under reduced pressure at 40° C. and the reaction mixture is then diluted with water before bringing the pH to 3. The mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate, dried (MgSO4) and evaporated to yield the title product in the form of an oil.

Provenance & Evidence