Ethyl Acetate → 1-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-3-(cyanomethylene)azetidine

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.257 g, 6.42 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (32 mL) at 0° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere was added diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (1.19 g, 6.72 mmol) (purchased from Aldrich). The reaction was then stirred for 45 minutes at room temperature. A solution of tert-butyl 3-oxoazetidine-1-carboxylate (1.00 g, 5.84 mmol) (purchased from Alfa Aesar) in tetrahydrofuran (8.8 mL) was introduced dropwise and the mixture was stirred for 16 hours. Brine and ethyl acetate were added and the layers separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with three portions of ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to afford product, used without further purification in Step 2 (1.12 g, 99%).

Provenance & Evidence