Diethyl ethylmalonate → 3-(2-Biphenylyl)-2-ethylpropionic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

188 g (1 mol) of diethyl ethylmalonate dissolved in 100 cm3 of H2O-free EtOH are added dropwise at room temperature to 23 g (1 mol) of sodium in 400 cm3 of H2O-free EtOH. 247 g (1 mol) of 2-phenylbenzyl bromide in 300 cm3 of H2O-free EtOH were subsequently added dropwise, and the mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. 170 g (3 mol) of KOH dissolved in 300 cm3 of H2O were added at room temperature, and the mixture was refluxed for a further 4 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo, H2O was added to the residue until the latter had dissolved completely, and the mixture was subsequently acidified to pH 1 by means of concentrated aqueous HCl. The precipitate which formed was filtered off with suction, dried and heated at 130° C. for 1 hour, giving 236 g (93%) of 13 as a viscous oil.

Provenance & Evidence