1-Naphthaldehyde → 2-(1-Naphthylmethylene)glutaric acid

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Reaction Steps

8.17 g (0.19 mole) of sodium hydride (as a 55% w/w dispersion in mineral oil) were added, whilst ice-cooling, to a solution of 25 g (0.16 mole) of dimethyl glutarate and 23.4 g (0.16 mole) of 1-naphthaldehyde dissolved in 200 ml of anhydrous methanol. The mixture was heated under reflux for 30 minutes, after which 190 ml (0.19 mole) of a 1N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide were added to it, and the mixture was again heated under reflux for 1 hour. The solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, and the resulting residue was mixed with water and washed with diethyl ether. The aqueous layer was acidified and then extracted with diethyl ether. The ethereal layer was washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, and then diisopropyl ether was added to the residue to precipitate crystals, which were collected by filtration to give 18.5 g of 2-(1 -naphthylmethylene)glutaric acid.

Provenance & Evidence