Diethyl Ether → 2-Cyano-2-methyl-propanoic acid methyl ester

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of cyano-acetic acid methyl ester (11 g, 111 mmol), Cs2CO3 (108 g, 333 mmol) and methyl iodide (35 mL, 556 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (300 mL) was stirred at r.t. for 3 days. Brine (100 mL) and ether (250 mL) were added, and the aqueous layer was extracted with additional ether (250 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with water (4×200 mL), and dried over MgSO4. The solvent was evaporated to give 11 g of the title compound as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 200 MHz): δ ppm=3.83 (s, 3H), 1.63 (s, 6H).

Provenance & Evidence