Nitromethane → Methyl 3-methyl-4-nitrobutanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

1,5-Diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-5-ene (6 ml) is added to a solution of nitromethane (91.5 g) in methanol (500 ml). The resulting mixture is heated to 60° C. and methyl crotonate (100 g, 1 m) is added under nitrogen. The mixture is then stirred for 6 days at 60° C. after which it is cooled to room temperature and most of the methanol is removed in vacuo. The residue is treated with ether (500 ml) and washed with 2N hydrochloric acid (250 ml) and water (250 ml). The organic layer is dried (Na2SO4) and evaporated in vacuo to give crude product. The crude product is purified by column chromatography on silica gel (500 g, ethyl acetate/hexane 2:98) to give methyl 3-methyl-4-nitrobutanoate (106.6 g, 66%).

Provenance & Evidence