Water → 2-methyl-3-oxo-N-phenethyl-butyramide

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Reaction Steps

2-(2-Methyl-[1,3]dioxolan-2-yl)-N-phenethyl-propionamide of Example 1c (0.40 g, 1.5 mmol) was added to p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (0.48 g, 2.5 mmol) in water (20 mmol) under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. Acetone (20 mL) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature and then heated at 95° C. for 3 h. After cooling to room temperature, the solution was made basic with sodium carbonate (0.5 g). The acetone was removed at room temperature under vacuum and the remaining aqueous material was extracted with dichloromethane (50 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL) and then dried with sodium sulfate. After concentration, the product was purified by crystallization from hexanes-ethyl acetate (1:1) to give 2-methyl-3-oxo-N-phenethyl-butyramide (0.17 g, 52%) as a white solid.

Provenance & Evidence