Acetic Anhydride → 2-Methylpropyl 2-cyano-3-ethoxyprop-2-enoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of isobutyl cyanoacetate (30 g), acetic anhydride (58 ml) and triethyl orthoformate (43 ml) was heated under reflux for 6 hours. The volatile material was evaporated and the residue was distilled to give isobutyl 2-cyano-3-ethoxy-2-propenoate, b.p. 130°-133° C./0.4 mm. A solution of this (6 g) in ethanol (30 ml) was mixed with benzylmethylamine (4 ml). The mixture was heated under reflux for 10 minutes and then cooled and diluted with water (50 ml). The solid was filtered and recrystallised from ethanol giving isobutyl 3-(benzylmethylamino)-2-cyano-2-propenoate, mp 105°-106° C.

Provenance & Evidence