Toluene → ethyl 2-(1-methyl-2-oxocyclopentyl)acetate

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Reaction Steps

A solution of sodium tert.-amylate in toluene (70 ml, 0.1 mole) is added dropwise with stirring under an atmosphere of nitrogen to a solution of 2-methylcyclopentanone (9.8 g, 0.1 mole) and ethyl bromoacetate (16.7 g, 0.1 mole) in dry benzene (100 ml). The reaction is exothermic, a precipitate is formed, and the mixture turns yellow-orange. Stirring is continued for 3 hrs. at room temperature, the solution is washed with 1% HCl, cold water, and brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and the solvent evaporated to yield 1-methyl-2-oxocyclopentane acetic acid ethyl ester as a pale yellow oil which is used without further purification in the subsequent step and which is identical with the same compound described in Example 5.

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