Hydrochloric Acid → 3,3-Diethoxypropanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of ethyl 3,3-diethoxypropanoate (20 g, 105 mmol) in water (80 ml) was added sodium hydroxide (5 g, 125 mmol, 1.2 eq). The resulting solution was stirred for 1 hour at 110° C. in an oil bath and then adjusted to pH 5 with aqueous hydrogen chloride (3N). The crude product was then extracted with tetrahydrofuran (3×80 ml) and the organic layers were combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and filtered before being concentrated under vacuum. The crude residue was purified by silica gel chromatography using 3-50% ethyl acetate in petroleum ether to elute. The product-containing fractions were combined and concentrated under vacuum to afford 3,3-diethoxypropanoic acid as light yellow oil (12 g, 70%); 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO): δ 4.80-4.82 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 1H), 3.41-3.61 (m, 4H), 2.49 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 2H), 1.06-1.24 (m, 6H).

Provenance & Evidence