4-Methylmorpholine → Ethyl 2-(2-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)propanamido)-3-oxobutanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4-methylmorpholine (900 g) in THF (15 L) was added to 2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)propanoic acid (1690 g, 8933.17 mmol). The mixture was cooled to −25° C. and isobutyl chloroformate (1.164 L, 8933.17 mmol) was added. After 20 minutes the second equivalent of 4-methylmorpholine (900 g) was added followed by ethyl 2-amino-3-oxobutanoate Tosylate salt (see J-P. Genet et al, Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2004, 3017-3026) (2700 g, 8507.78 mmol) suspended in THF (2.5 L). The mixture was stirred at −25° C. for 30 minutes and then left to warm to ambient temperature overnight. The reaction was quenched with water (15 L), extracted with EtOAc (3×5 L) and the combined extracts washed with 50% saturated brine (5 L). The organic layer was dried over MgSO4, filtered and evaporated to afford crude product. The crude product was purified by flash silica chromatography, elution gradient 50 to 80% EtOAc in isohexane. Pure fractions were evaporated to dryness to afford ethyl 2-(2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamino)propanamido)-3-oxobutanoate (1850 g, 68.7%).

Provenance & Evidence