Step 1: 4-Fluorophenylacetic acid (700 mg, 4.34 mmol) was dissolved in methanol at room temperature and concentrated sulfuric acid (0.42 mL, 4.34 mmol, 0.1 equiv) was added slowly. The reaction mixture was refluxed under nitrogen protection at 70 °C for 3 h. The progress of the reaction was monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC) to confirm complete consumption of the feedstock. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed sequentially with saturated brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The organic phase was concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude product. Finally, the crude product was purified by column chromatography to afford methyl 2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetate (660 mg, 84% yield).
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