Potassium Carbonate → 2-(Tert-butoxy)acetic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To 100 ml of a 50:50 (v/v) methanol/water solution containing 14.35 g of potassium carbonate, was added n-butyl 2-tert-butoxyacetate (6.50 g, 0.0346 mol). The mixture was heated at reflux for 17 hours and the volatiles removed on a flash evaporator. The remaining solution was cooled to approximately 0° C. and acidified to pH 3-4 with cold 50% aqueous hydrogen chloride. The product was extracted with ether, the ether extract washed with brine and dried over magnesium sulfate, then concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a yellow liquid.

Provenance & Evidence