(2-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxybenzoate

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: 244 g of guaiacol salicylate (1.0 mole) and 138 g of salicylic acid (1.0 mole) are suspended in 1 liter of dimethylformamide. 80 g of phosphorus oxychloride are added over a period of about one hour to the solution, which is kept heated under agitation to 60°-70° C., and the mixture is maintained at this temperature until hydrochloric acid ceases to be evolved. The homogeneous dense mass, of straw colour, is poured under energetic agitation into 5 liters of a water-ice mixture and the suspension is neutralised slowly with dilute sodium hydroxide. The crystalline white solid which precipitates is filtered off, washed abundantly with water and then crystallised from isopropanol to obtain an overall yield of 60%. The product has a melting point of 85°-86° C. is kept heated under agitation to 60°-70° C. The crystalline white solid which precipitates is filtered off washed abundantly with water crystallised from isopropanol to obtain an overall yield of 60%