Phenethyl bromide → Tert-butyl 3-oxo-2-phenethylbutanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium (2.3 g; 0.10 mol) was allowed to react with dry ethanol (50 ml) under nitrogen. The resulting clear solution was cooled (ice bath) and t-butyl acetoacetate (15.8 g; 0.10 mol) was added during 10 minutes with stirring. After 10 minutes, 2-(bromoethyl)benzene (18.5 g; 0.10 mol) was added during 30 minutes. The resulting solution was heated at reflux for 4 hours, then cooled and filtered. After concentration, the residue was partitioned between water and ether, and the ether layer was dried (MgSO4) and concentrated. Distillation of the residue gave 21.0 g (0.080 mol; 80%) of the title product; bp 110°-120° (0.3 mm). NMR (CDCL3); 1.45 (9H,s), 2.17 (3H,s), 1.8-2.4 (2H,m), 2.5-2.7 (2H,m); 3.28 (1H,J=7); 7.2-7.4 (5H, broad s). MS (m/e); 262 (M+).

Provenance & Evidence