Ethanol → Diethyl (1-cyano-3-methylbutyl)propanedioate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A reactor was charged with (R)-3-cyano-2-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid ethyl ester (Formula 22, 49.5 kg) and EtOH (250 L). Sodium ethoxide (21% w/w in EtOH, 79.0 L, 1.1 eq) was added to the mixture, which was heated to 80° C. for 20 h. After completion of the reaction, the mixture was allowed to cool to RT and was neutralized by adding HOAc (12.2 L). Following evaporation of the EtOH, MTBE (150 L) was added to the mixture, and the resulting solution was filtered and evaporated to afford (R/S)-3-cyano-2-ethoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-hexanoic acid ethyl ester (Formula 20) in quantitative yield.

Provenance & Evidence