Water → Methyl 4-(3-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred suspension of potassium cyanide (3.25 g) in N,N-dimethylformamide (30 cm3), being maintained at a temperature of 45° C., was added 3-fluorobenzaldehyde (25.0 g). Ethyl acrylate (18.46 cm3) was then added and the resultant mixture was stirred at 40° C. for 2 h. Water (200 cm3) was added and the aqueous mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (2×125 cm3). The organic extracts were washed with water (100 cm3) and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution (100 cm3) before being dried (Na2SO4) and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to yield the title compound (25.27 g) as a yellow oil.

Provenance & Evidence