Methanol → Ethyl (2Z)-2-methoxyimino-3-oxo-butanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In a solution of 13.3 g of sodium carbonate in 120 ml of water is dissolved 10 g of ethyl 3-oxo-2-hydroxyiminobutyrate, followed by addition of 30 ml of methanol. The mixture is cooled with ice and, under stirring, 15.8 g of dimethyl sulfate is added dropwise over a period of 3 minutes. After the dropwise addition has been completed, the ice-bath is removed and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 40 minutes. The reaction mixture (pH 8 or higher) is extracted twice with ethyl acetate and the extracts are pooled, washed with water and dried. The solvent is then evaporated off under reduced pressure and the residue is subjected to distillation under reduced pressure. By the above procedure is obtained 9 g of ethyl 3-oxo-2-methoxyiminobutyrate as a pale-yellow oil boiling at 56°-61° C./0.3-0.4 mmHg.

Provenance & Evidence