Reaction #76424

Reaction equation

Hydrogen chloride

(4-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid

methanol

→

methyl(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate

Conditions

Workup

1. 1
   OtherAn exotherm resulted in the solution
2. 2
   Temperaturerefluxing for about 10 minutes
3. 3
   Otherthe solvent was evaporated in vacuo

Procedure

Hydrogen chloride was bubbled through a solution of (4-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid (25 g, 0.16 mole) in methanol (100 ml) at room temperature. An exotherm resulted in the solution refluxing for about 10 minutes. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature and the solvent was evaporated in vacuo to afford methyl(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate as a yellow oil (27.5 g) which crystallised on seeding, m.p. 46-52° C.

Source