Water → Acetic acid, azido-, ethyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl bromoacetate (150 g, 0.901 mol) in dry acetonitrile (800 ml) was treated with sodium azide (58.57 g, 0.901 mol) under a nitrogen atmosphere, and the mixture was heated at reflux for 20 hours. After cooling, water (50 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for half an hour; the upper phase was separated out and the lower phase was treated with a salt and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic phases were combined and the solvent removed at a temperature not exceeding 50° C., in order to give a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence