Sodium Chloride → (R)-2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a cooled solution (0-5° C.) of D-leucine (200 g, 1.5 mol) in sulfuric acid (3 L, 1 M) was added dropwise a solution of sodium nitrite (240 g, 3.5 mol) in water (1 L) while maintaining the temperature between 0-5° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The solution was saturated with sodium chloride and extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether (3×). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4 and filtered, and the solvent was removed in vacuo. (R)-α-hydroxyisocaproic acid was isolated as a white solid in a yield of 67% (132 g).

Provenance & Evidence