Methyl Ethyl Ketone → Phenylmethoxy-2,4-hexandione

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-Butanone (32.7 ml) in dry THF (120 ml) was added to lithium diisopropylamide (1.5M in THF; 250 ml) at -78° C. Methyl benzyloxyacetate (30,0 g) was added with stirring and the mixture allowed to warm to room temperature and was then heated at 45° overnight. After cooling the reaction was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution, acidified and extracted with ether (3×100 ml). After drying and evaporation, the title compound was obtained as a brown oil (45.6 g).

Provenance & Evidence