Acetic Anhydride → 2-(Ethoxymethylidene)-3-oxobutanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-Oxo-butyronitrile (4.94 g, 60.9 mmol), triethylorthoformate (15.0 mL, 90.2 mmol), and acetic anhydride (0.3 mL, 2.7 mmol) were warmed to about 95-115° C. for about 1 hours, over which time a distillate was collected and discarded. After cooling the resultant mixture to room temperature, hexanes were added and a precipitate formed. The resultant mixture was filtered and the solids washed with hexanes, to yield the title compound as a solid.

Provenance & Evidence