Hydrochloric Acid → Ethyl hepta-2,4-dienoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

20 g of the ethyl 3,4-heptadienoate obtained in Example 1 was agitated at 40°C. for 2 hours in 80 ml of propanol in the presence of 3 ml of 4N KOH as a catalyst. The resulting reaction mixture was neutralized with 4N HCl, dried and distilled. Ethyl 2,4-heptadienoate was obtained in a yield of 92% from a fraction boiling at 64.5°C. under 2.5 mm Hg. The double bond at the 2-position was of the trans-form and the double bond at the 4-position was composed of 55% of the cis-form and 45% of the trans-form.

Provenance & Evidence