What happens when methyl-3-nitrobenzoate reacts with methanol?

Question

please name the compounds that are formed when methyl-3-nitrobenzoate reacts with methanol. thanks.

Answer 1

The alcohol will react with your acid group to create an ester so instead of having

Ph-COOH (assume the nitro group is on the Ph= phenyl group)

you will have

Ph-COO-CH3

The OH from your alcohol group reacts with the H from your acid group COOH to give you water

The general reaction is this

R-OH + R'-COOH = R-COOR' + H2O  

Answer 2

Methyl -3- nitrobenzoate is already an ester.  It is the methyl ester of 3-Nitrobenzoic acid and can be prepared by nitrating Methylbenzoate in Sulfuric acid.

Methyl -3- nitrobenzoate is somewhat soluble in alcohols.  It does not readily react with these.  It is often recrystallized from Ethanol or Methanol.