Methanol → Methyl 4-bromo-2-methylbenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 4-bromo-2-methylbenzoic acid (20 grams, 215 mmol), methanol (500 mL) and concentrated sulfuric acid (1 mL) was refluxed for 8 hours. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo, diluted with ether, washed twice with water, and the organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo, affording 17 grams of 4-bromo-2-methylbenzoic acid methyl ester. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz): δ 7.77 (d, 1H, J=8.3 Hz), 7.41 (s, 1H), 7.37 (d, 1H, J=8.3 Hz), 3.89 (s, 3H), 2.58 (s, 3H) ppm.

Provenance & Evidence