Ethyl benzoylacetate → Benzoylacetic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium hydroxide (0.4 g) was dissolved in water (10 mL), and ethyl benzoylacetate (2.14 g: 90% pure, made by Aldrich) was added and this was agitated overnight at room temperature. The reaction product was washed with ether, then 10% dilute sulfuric acid (4.9 g) was added and the reaction product was extracted with ether. The ether extract was dried by adding excess anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the anhydrous sodium sulfate was removed by filtration. The ether was then removed with a rotary evaporator, yielding benzoylacetic acid (yield 1.05 g).

Provenance & Evidence