Nitromethane → 1-Cyano-2,2-dipropyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid benzyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-cyano-3-propyl-hex-2-enoic acid benzyl ester (0.91 g, 3.35 mmol) in 50 mL acetonitrile was added nitromethane (0.91 mL, 16.77 mmol), followed by DBU (0.50 mL, 3.35 mmol) resulting in an orange solution. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, then partitioned between Et2O and 1N HCl (aq). The phases were separated, and the organic phase washed with brine, dried (MgSO4), and concentrated. Flash chromatography of the residue (5→10% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded 0.71 g (81%) of 1-cyano-2,2-dipropyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid benzyl ester as a pale yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 7.35 (m, 5H), 5.21 (dd, J=18.3, 12.4 Hz, 2H), 1.79 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 1.74 (m, 1H), 1.52 (m, 3H), 1.43 (d, J=5.1 Hz, 1H), 1.36 (m, 3H), 1.04 (m, 1H), 0.95 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H), 0.73 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H). 13C NMR δ 166.40, 135.22, 128.81, 128.69, 128.48, 118.60, 68.23, 41.26, 36.45, 30.27, 29.76, 24.91, 19.74, 19.65, 14.22, 14.10. IR (neat) 2240, 1734 cm−1. Anal. Calcd for C18H23NO2: C, 75.76; H, 8.12; N, 4.91. Found: C, 75.38; H, 8.02; N, 4.97.

Provenance & Evidence