Hydrochloric Acid → Sodium 2-oxo-3-phenylbutanoate

A 2N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (10 ml, 20 mmoles) and 30 ml of methanol were added to 3.92 g (20 mmoles) of sodium phenylpyruvate to form a solution. Then, 1.25 ml of methyl iodide was added, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was acidified with 1N hydrochloric acid, and extracted with 150 ml of ether. The ether layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a pale yellowish white oil. A 3N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (6.5 ml) was added, and the mixture was concentrated. Ether was added to the resulting semi-solid mixture, and the precipitated sodium 2-oxo-3-phenylbutanoate was isolated by filtration as a white solid (1.62 g, yield 85 %).