Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid → Benzyl 4-aminobutanoate--hydrogen chloride (1/1)

Reaction equation

[CH2:1]([CH2:6][NH2:7])[CH2:2][C:3]([OH:5])=[O:4].[CH2:8](O)[C:9]1[CH:14]=[CH:13][CH:12]=[CH:11][CH:10]=1.O=S(Cl)[Cl:18]>C(OCC)C>[ClH:18].[CH2:8]([O:4][C:3](=[O:5])[CH2:2][CH2:1][CH2:6][NH2:7])[C:9]1[CH:14]=[CH:13][CH:12]=[CH:11][CH:10]=1

Participants

Procedure

GABA (4 g, 38.8 mmol) was suspended in 50 ml (0.48 mol) of benzyl alcohol. The reaction mixture was stirred, with cooling on an ice bath, while 20 ml SOCl2 was added dropwise over a 30 minute period. The mixture was slowly brought to the reflux temperature and refluxed for 4 hours. The resultant pink viscous solution was cooled to room temperature. Addition of 50 ml of ethyl ether and refrigeration overnight produced white crystals which were collected by filtration, recrystallized from a mixture of ethyl ether and ethanol and dried, m.p. 115°-116° C.