3-Methoxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid

5081-37-8

5081-36-7

The general procedure for the synthesis of 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid from methyl 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzoate was as follows: to a stirred solution of methyl 3-methoxy-4-nitrobenzoate (2.11 g, 10 mmol) in methanol (30 mL), a solution of potassium hydroxide (1.68 g, 30 mmol) in water (30 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed for 2 hours and subsequently the methanol was removed by vacuum distillation. The residue was diluted with distilled water (20 mL) and cooled in an ice bath. It was acidified with saturated aqueous potassium bisulfate to pH 3-4. The precipitated solid was collected by filtration and washed sequentially with cold water and hexane. The product was an off-white solid in 96% yield, mass spectrum (ESI+) m/z 198 [M + H]+.