Ethyl Propionate → 1-(3-Pyridyl)propan-1-one

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of ethyl nicotinate (15.1 g, 0.1 mole), ethyl propionate (15.3 g, 0.15 mole) and sodium ethoxide (10.2 g, 0.15 mole) was stirred and heated under nitrogen at 100° C. for five hours. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with water (150 ml) extracted with diethyl ether (50 ml) and the aqueous layer made acidic to pH 1 with concentrated hydrochloric acid (50 ml). The aqueous layer was heated at 90° C. for two hours, cooled, made alkaline with solid potassium carbonate and extracted with diethyl ether (3×75 ml). The dried (magnesium sulphate) organic layer was concentrated and distilled to give ethyl 3-pyridyl ketone (b.pt 97°-99°/14 mm Hg).

Provenance & Evidence