Ethanol → 1-Azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-3-one

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Reaction Steps

To a 250 mL round-bottomed flask equipped with condenser and nitrogen inlet were added 1.55 g (39.69 g-atm.) potassium and 80 mL toluene. The mixture was heated to reflux and treated with 1.83 mL (39.69 mmol) ethanol. Refluxing continued until the potassium disappeared. Then 4.08 g (15.87 mmol) ethyl-N-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-perhydroazepine-4-carboxylate was added and refluxing was continued for 14 hours. The reaction was evaporated and the residue taken up in 100 mL 1N hydrochloric acid. This solution was refluxed for 22 hours, cooled, washed with methylene chloride, and adjusted to pH 12 with 6N sodium hydroxide. The aqueous layer was extracted with methylene chloride, which was dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The resulting foam, 700 mg (32%), was used directly below.

Provenance & Evidence