Methyl (4-cyanophenyl)acetate

67-56-1

5462-71-5

52798-01-3

The general procedure for the synthesis of methyl 2-(4-cyanophenyl)acetate from methanol and 4-cyanophenylacetic acid was as follows: concentrated sulfuric acid (98%, 4.5 g, 54.8 mmol) was added slowly and dropwise to 40 ml of methanol solution of 4-cyanophenylacetic acid (3 g, 18.0 mmol), and the reaction mixture was stirred for 4 h at room temperature. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and the pH was adjusted with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution to 8. Subsequently, the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phases were combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give methyl 2-(4-cyanophenyl)acetate 3.2 g in 98% yield.