Benzyl Alcohol → Benzyl 4,4-dimethoxy-3-oxobutyrate

Participants

Reaction Steps

2.68 g (14.1 mmol) of ethyl 4,4-dimethoxy-3-oxo-butyrate, 3.62 ml (34.9 mmol) of benzyl alcohol and 244 mg (2.0 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine were heated under reflux in 40 ml of toluene for three nights. A phosphate buffer solution was added to the obtained reaction solution. After the extraction with ethyl acetate, the organic layer was washed with a saturated aqueous salt solution and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by the silica gel chromatography (hexane/ethyl acetate=9:1) to obtain the title compound.

Provenance & Evidence