Methyl iodide → methyl (RS)-2-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenylcyclohexene-1-carboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

0.88 cm3 (14 mmol) of methyl iodide and 1.8 cm3 (12 mmol) of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, dropwise, were successively added to a solution of 2.3 g (10 mmol) of (RS)-2-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenylcyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid in 20 cm3 of acetone. The reaction mixture was subsequently heated at reflux for two hours. The acetone was subsequently concentrated, the residue was then stirred with 100 cm3 of water and then extracted with three times 30 cm3 of ethyl acetate. After drying over magnesium sulphate and concentrating under reduced pressure, 2.3 g (94%) of methyl (RS)-2-methyl-5-oxo-2-phenylcyclohexene-1-carboxylate were obtained in the form of an orange oil, the characteristic of which was as follows:

Provenance & Evidence