Acetic Acid → N-(2-Cyanoethyl)-2-methylalanine

Participants

Reaction Steps

50 g (0.48 mol) of 2-methylalanine were added to a cooled solution (water/ice) of NaOH (19.6 g) in water (100 ml). Once the solution had turned clear, 34 ml (0.50 mol) of acrylonitrile were dropped on cooling. The mixture was left overnight. After 18 hours, 28 ml of acetic acid were added on cooling (water/ice); a white solid precipitated; 200 ml of 95% ethanol were dropped in the flask, stirring was continued for 1 hour, then the mixture was allowed to stand in a fridge for 2-3 hours. After filtration, the solid was collected and dried in an oven at 80° C. The filtrates were evaporated and taken up with ethanol (160 ml). On cooling a further amount of product was obtained, which was filtered and dried. 72 g of the title compound were obtained from the first filtration. Total yield: 95%.

Provenance & Evidence