Pyridine → Acetylphenylalanine methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2.73 g of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (12.7 mmol) in 5.00 g of pyridine (63.2 mmol) is dropwise added 12.90 g of acetic anhydride (126.0 mmol) under ice cooling. The mixture is allowed to stand for 2 hours and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract is washed with 5% hydrochloric acid, saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate and saturated brine in order, dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 2.34 g of the objective N-acetylphenylalanine methyl ester 4. Yield, 83.6%.

Provenance & Evidence