N-Methylacetamide → N-alpha-methoxyethyl-N-methyl-acetamide

Participants

Reaction Steps

First 20 g of triethylamine and then a mixture of 91 g of triethylamine (1.1 moles in total) and 36.5 g (0.5 mole) of N-methylacetamide are added dropwise, at 0° C., to a solution of 94.5 g (1 mole) of α-chloroethyl methyl ether in 200 ml of hexane. After 2 hours, 44 g (1.1 moles) of technical-grade sodium hydroxide flakes are added and 20 ml of 50% strength sodium hydroxide solution are added dropwise, whilst cooling with ice, and the mixture is stirred for a further half an hour. The hexane solution is decanted, the flask is rinsed with hexane and the reaction solution is concentrated, the triethylamine employed being completely recovered in the distillate. The residue is subjected to flash distillation in vacuo. This yields 61 g (93% of theory) of N-α-methoxyethyl-N-methyl-acetamide. Boiling point (23 mm Hg): 84° C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): 1.2-1.4 ppm (dd); 2.1 ppm (d); 2.8 ppm (d); 3.2 ppm (d); 4.95-5.15 ppm (q); 5.6-5.9 ppm (q).

Provenance & Evidence