Acetic Acid → 2-Cyano-4-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-3-methyl-but-2-enoic Acid Ethyl Ester

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Reaction Steps

In a flask equipped with a Dean-stark trap was prepared a solution of 1-(4-Methoxy-phenyl)-propan-2-one (40 g), ethyl cyanoacetate (27.56 g), ammonium acetate (9.40 g), acetic acid (14.64 g) and toluene (150 ml) at room temperature. The solution was heated to reflux overnight. The solution was cooled to room temperature, washed with water and brine, and concentrated. The crude product was purified on a silica gel column, eluting with 10% ethyl acetate/hexane to afford colorless oil (40.76 g). The 1H NMR was consistent with the proposed structure.

Provenance & Evidence