Reactions in Slightly Hydrated Solid/Liquid Heterogeneous Media: The Methylation Reaction with Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1986-31729

The O-methylation of alcohols and phenols with stoichiometric amounts of dimethyl sulfate in 1,4-dioxan or triglyme in the presence of solid potassium hydroxide and small amounts of water represents a useful method for the synthesis of methyl ethers in high yields and with high selectivity.The complete consumption of dimethyl sulfate in this reaction avoids the problems connected with the work-up of reaction mixtures still containing excess amounts of this toxic reagent.