Dimethyl Succinate → 3-Carbomethoxy-4-(3-methoxyphenyl)-3-butenoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a refluxing suspension of 15.71 g (140 mmol, 1.4 eq) of potassium t-butoxide in 50 ml of t-butylalcohol is dropped in a mixture of 12.17 (100 mmol) of 3-methoxybenzaldehyde and 15.70 ml (120 mmol, 1.2 eq) of dimethyl succinate dissolved in 20 ml of t-butylalcohol. The mixture is refluxed for 3 hours, concentrated in vacuo, acidified to pH ~1 using 1N HCl, and extracted with ethylacetate. The organics are dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo to give 3-carbomethoxy-4-(3-methoxyphenyl)-3-butenoic acid in the form of a yellow oil which is used directly in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence