Boron trifluoride etherate → Acetic acid 4,4-diethoxy-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxobutyl ester

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Boron trifluoride etherate (17.03 g, 120.0 mmol) was added drop-wise over 15 min to a cooled (−40° C.) solution of triethyl orthoformate (14.82 g, 100.0 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 ml). Stirring was continued for 10 min then the solution was transferred to an ice-water bath and stirred at 0° C. for 20 min. The mixture was cooled to −78° C., and acetic acid 1,1-dimethyl-2-oxopropyl ester (7.21 g, 50.0 mmol) added followed by drop-wise addition of N,N-diisopropylethylamine (19.39 g, 150.0 mmol) over 15 min. Stirring was continued for 1 h then the solution was poured onto a vigorously stirred mixture of saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution (500 ml) and dichloromethane (200 ml). The organic phase was separated, washed with ice-cold 1N sulfuric acid solution (2×500 ml) and ice-cold water (2×500 ml), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate solution and evaporated to give acetic acid 4,4-diethoxy-1,1-dimethyl-2-oxobutyl ester (12.32 g, 100%) as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence