Trimethylsilyldiazomethane → methyl 2-amino-4,5-dimethylbenzoate

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Reaction Steps

0.41 g Sodium nitrite in water is added to 1 g 4,5-dimethyl-2-nitroaniline in 3 mL conc. HCl and stirred for 1 hour at +4° C. This solution is added to a mixture of 0.67 g copper (I) cyanide, 0.98 g sodium cyanide, 0.32 g sodium carbonate, 25 mL of water and 3 mL toluene. The mixture is stirred for 12 hours at room temperature and worked up to give 0.45 g 4,5-dimethyl-2-nitrobenzonitrile. 4,5-Dimethyl-2-nitrobenzonitrile is reduced with iron powder in acetic acid to yield 4,5-dimethyl-2-aminobenzonitrile. 4,5-Dimethyl-2-aminobenzonitrile is heated at reflux for 12 hours in conc. HCl to give 4,5-dimethyl-2-aminobenzoic acid. 4,5-Dimethyl-2-aminobenzoic acid is reacted with trimethylsilyl-diazomethane to yield methyl 4,5-dimethyl-2-aminobenzoate (Chem. Pharm. Bull. Vol. 29, 1475 (1981)).

Provenance & Evidence