Water → 1,4-Diethyl 2-formylbutanedioate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of sodium (333 mg, 14 mmol, 1.2 eq) in diethyl ether (7 mL) were added succinic acid diethyl ester (2.1 g, 12 mmol, 1 eq) and formic acid ethyl ester (1.7 mL, 20 mmol, 1.7 eq). The mixture was stirred at 40° C. for 5 h. Water (10 mL) was added and the aqueous layer was washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL). The aqueous layer was then acidified with a 6N solution of hydrochloric acid and extracted with diethyl ether (3×10 mL). The organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo to afford the expected compound as orange oil (2.6 g, quant. yield).

Provenance & Evidence