Methyl 3-methoxy-4-methylbenzoate is synthesized by the following steps:A mixture of methyl 3-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoate 36 (25 g, 0.151 mol), Me2SO4 (28.3 ml, 0.386 mol), anhydrous K2CO3 (103.5 g, 0.75 mol) was refluxed in acetone for 2 hours. K2CO3 was filtered off, washed thoroughly with acetone. The filtrates were combined and concentrated, the residue was redissolved in EtOAc washed with water, dried (anhydrous Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo to furnish a white solid (19.52 g). Yield : 72%.
