Hydrochloric Acid → Methyl 2,2-dimethylacetoacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 20.86 g of 20 mesh zinc metal, 165 ml of 120:210 by volumes ether:benzene and 0.05 g of mercuric chloride was added a few drops of a solution of 26.64 g of methyl alpha-bromoisobutyrate and 18.72 g of acetic anhydride followed by brief heating with a heat gun to initiate the reaction. The remaining solution was added slowly at reflux. After addition was complete, the mixture was refluxed for 21/2 hrs, cooled, poured over 12 ml concentrated HCl mixed with ice, and extracted with ether. The combined extract was washed with water, dried (MgSO4) and stripped to give 23.15 g of a yellow oil. Distillation yielded 15.41 g of the desired product as a colorless oil, b.p. 32° C. (1 mm Hg).

Provenance & Evidence