Water → Ethyl 3-(4-cyano-3-methoxyphenyl)oxirane-2-carboxylate

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 4-formyl-2-methoxybenzonitrile (383 mg, 2.38 mmol) and chloroacetic acid ethyl ester (291 mg, 2.38 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mL of dry benzene. Freshly prepared EtONa (3.09 mmol) in 2.5 mL of ethanol was added, and the mixture were stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The mixture was added water, then extracted with EtOAc. The organic layers were dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated to afford ethyl 3-(4-cyano-3-methoxyphenyl)oxirane-2-carboxylate. MS m/z: 248 (M+1)+.

Provenance & Evidence