Methyl iodide → Methyl 4-bromo-3-methoxy-2-methylbenzoate

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A solution of methyl 4-bromo-3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoate (610 mg, 2.5 mmol), cesium carbonate (1.22 g, 3.7 mmol) and iodomethane (162 μl, 2.6 mmol) in dimethylformamide (5 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 15 hours. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate, then washed with 5% aqueous lithium chloride then brine and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Filtration and concentration afforded an orange residue, which was purified by silica gel column chromatography. Eluting with 15% diethyl ether in hexane, purified fractions were pooled and concentrated to afford 455 mg, 1.76 mmol (71%) of methyl 4-bromo-2-methyl-3-(methyloxy)benzoate as a colorless residue. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): 7.52 (d, 1H), 7.43 (d, 1H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 2.55 (s, 3H). MS (EI) for C10H1BrO3: 260 (MH+).

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