1-Butanol → Butyl acetoacetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A charge of 5,600 grams of n-butanol was placed in a 22 L, jacketed reaction flask equipped with an overhead stirrer, reflux condenser, thermocouple, and a liquid feed pump. A glycol-water mixture maintained at a set temperature of 70° C. was circulated through the reactor jacket from a bath reservoir to bring the reactor contents to 50° C. When the reactor reached 50° C., 365 mL of triethylamine was added. Diketene, in an amount of 6,049 grams, was then added at a rate of 15 mL/min. The reactor temperature was increased slowly during the addition of diketene. When the reactor reached 55° C., the circulating liquid bath temperature was lowered to cool the reactor and to maintain the reaction temperature in the range of from about 55 to about 57° C. The addition of the entire charge of diketene, (4.1 kg) required 8 hours. The reaction mixture was then allowed to cool slowly to 35° C. with continued agitation. The crude reaction product was then purified by fractional distillation at a pressure of 6 torr and provided pure n-butyl acetoacetate as a clear, colorless liquid.

Provenance & Evidence