Dimethyl Sulfoxide → Benzyl 2,2-dimethyl-5-oxopentanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a −78° C. solution of oxalyl chloride (4.80 g, 37.8 mmol) in DCM (200 mL) was add DMSO (5.91 g, 75.6 mmol) dropwise over 10 minutes. After 25 minutes of additional stirring, a −78° C. solution of benzyl 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpentanoate (4.06 g, 17.2 mmol, Step B) in DCM (200 mL) was added via cannula over 75 minutes. After stirring for an additional 30 minutes, triethylamine (13.9 g, 137 mmol) was added slowly over 25 minutes. The cooling bath was allowed to warm, while the reaction stirred for an additional 18 hours. Reaction solvent was then removed in vacuo, and the residue was dissolved in a mixture of diethyl ether and water (containing enough HCl to remain acidic). The organics were then dried over sodium sulfated, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound (3.67 g), which was used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence