Dimethyl Sulfate → Methyl 2-ethylbutyrate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 116 g (1 mol) of 2-ethylbutyric acid, 135 g (1.05 mol) of dimethyl sulfate, and 155 g (1.12 mol) of potassium carbonate in 500 ml of acetone was stirred at room temperature under nitrogen overnight, and then was allowed to reflux under nitrogen for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, filtered, and the residual solid was washed with 500 ml of ether. The combined filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, the residue was redissolved in ether, the ether solution was washed successively with water and brine and then dried. The solvent was concentrated and the residual liquid was distilled to afford 70 g (53.8 %) of methyl 2-ethylbutyrate, b.p. 135°-137° C.

Provenance & Evidence