Sulfuric Acid → Pentan-3-yl (2S)-2-hydroxypropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 180 g of L-lactic acid, 528 g of 3-pentanol and 1 ml of conc. H2SO4 was refluxed in a Dean-Stark apparatus, until no more water formed (ca. 3 hours). The mixture was washed with water, NaHCO3 solution and brine, dried (MgSO4) and distilled to yield the title compound, boiling point 79°-81° C. at 15 mm of Hg.

Provenance & Evidence