The cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (7.0 g, 45.5 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (2 mL, 49.5 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at 100 °C for 1 hour. Upon completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by evaporation to afford trans-2-(methoxycarbonyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (8.46 g, 45.5 mmol, 100% yield) as a white solid, which could be used in subsequent steps without further purification. The melting point of the product is 67-69 °C. Infrared spectrum (KBr): ν 3060, 1710, 1670 cm-1. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.54 (s, 1H), 3.68 (s, 3H), 2.89-2.81 (m, 2H), 2.09-1.96 (m, 2H), 1.83-1.72 (m, 2H), 1.61-1.36 （13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ 179.76, 174.06, 51.71, 42.48, 42.33, 26.25, 25.95, 23.74, 23.62. High-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI): Calculated value of C9H13O4 [M-H]- 185.0792, measured value of 185.0790. 185.0790.
