Hydrochloric Acid → 4-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

After 16.23 g of potassium hydroxide (having a purity of 85% by weight) was dissolved in 48 ml of water, 5.0 g (30.5 mmol) of phenylpyruvic acid and 12.1 g (91.4 mmol) of oxalacetic acid were added to the resulting solution, for reaction at ambient temperature for 72 hours (about pH 13 at the start of the reaction). Using conc. hydrochloric acid, the reaction solution was adjusted to pH 2.2, and extracted in ethyl acetate. The organic layer was rinsed in aqueous saturated sodium chloride, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to obtain the residue. The residue was recrystallized in ethyl acetate and toluene, to obtain 2.8 g (11.3 mmol) of 4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-2-ketoglutaric acid in crystal form.

Provenance & Evidence