Ethanol → (2S)-2-methylbutanedioic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of an itaconic acid (40.9 mg, 0.314 mmol) dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (0.3 mL) and ethanol (EtOH) (0.3 mL) is added to an autoclave in which the catalyst obtained in Preparation Example 7 was added. After replacing the atmosphere to hydrogen gas, it was stirred for 18 hours at reaction temperature of 50° C. under 3 atm pressure of hydrogen. After the reaction, it was cooled down to be room temperature, and the catalyst was filtered in the atmosphere to recover thereof and washed with THF (1 mL) three times. The solvent was concentrated from the filtrate, and the desired (S)-2-methylsuccinic acid was obtained. The yield thereof measured by NMR was >99%, and the optical purity thereof was >90% ee.

Provenance & Evidence