3.3. Synthesis of p-Coumaric Acid Methyl Ester

p-coumaric acid methyl ester was prepared by reacting p-coumaric acid (600 mg) in methanol (6 mL) with 96% sulfuric acid (600 μL) under reflux. After 2 h the mixture was diluted with water, extracted with ethyl acetate, and washed twice with a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and taken to dryness to afford the product (410 mg, 58% yield) as a pale-yellow powder.