Ethanol → 1,4-Diethyl 2-formylbutanedioate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Ethanol (20 cm3) was added portionwise to a suspension of finely divided sodium (10.0 g) in dry toluene (100 cm3). On completion of the addition the mixture was heated for 3.5 hours at 80° C. To the resulting yellow suspension, cooled to 20° C., was added dropwise, over a period of 1 hour, a mixture of diethyl succinate (70.0 g) and ethyl formate (35.0 g), whilst the temperature of the mixture was maintained in the range 20° to 30° C. The mixture was kept at the ambient temperature for 16 hours after which water (100 cm3) was added carefully.

Provenance & Evidence