Improvement of Synthesis Process for 3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl Acetic Acid

OBJECTIVE To improve the synthesis process of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl acetic acid. METHODS 3,4,5-methoxyphenyl acetic acid was synthesized from 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde by reduction with KBH4 in water, followed by chlorination, cyanation and hydrolysis in one-pot. RESULTS The overall yield was 64.2%. The structure of 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl acetic acid was confirmed by 1H-NMR. CONCLUSION The synthetic process is practical and easy to be scaled up.