Ethyl 3-(nitromethyl)hexanoate → 4-Propylpyrrolidin-2-one

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Reaction Steps

300 g (1.476 mol) of 3-nitromethyl-hexanoic acid ethyl ester (B) are diluted in methanol (500 ml). The mixture is transferred to an autoclave of 1 L. The reaction mixture is allowed to react at 55° C. under 50 bars of hydrogen pressure for 28 h. The catalyst is filtered on celite and washed with methanol. The filtrate is recovered with 500 ml of dichloromethane. Then, the solution is extracted with water (2×400 ml). The organic layers are dried with MgSO4, filtered and concentrated to afford an oil residue (177.12 g, HPLC purity=82.6%) which is purified by distillation (110° C., 7.10−2 mbar). 147.82 g of (C) are obtained (Yield=78.7%).

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