Diethyl Oxalate → Ethyl 3-(3-nitropyridin-4-yl)-2-oxopropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of potassium ethoxide (3.1 g, 36.2 mmol) in diethyl ether (70 mL) and ethanol (10 mL) under an argon atmosphere was added diethyl oxalate (4.9 mL, 36.2 mmol) and the reaction stirred at rt for 30 min. A solution of 4-methyl-3-nitropyridine (5.0 g, 36.2 mmol) in diethyl ether (20 mL) was added resulting in the immediate formation of a dark red precipitate. The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 72 h, then cooled to 0° C. and filtered. The solid was dissolved in water (500 mL) acidified to pH 4 with acetic acid and the precipitate collected and dried to give the title compound as a red solid. δH (d6 DMSO): 1.27 (3H, t), 4.25 (2H, q), 6.74 (1H, s), 8.34 (1H, d), 8.43 (1H, d), 8.98 (1H, s); m/z (ES+)=239 [M+H]+.

Provenance & Evidence