Methyl 3-acetoxy-2-methylenebutyrate → methyl 2-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]acrylate

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of methyl 2-(1-acetoxyethyl)acrylate (5 g) and "Lipase P" (Trademark; origin : Pseudomonas sp.; maker : Amano Pharmaceutical Co.) (1.25 g) in phosphate buffer solution (0.1M) pH 7.0 (400 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 55 hours. The whole mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate three times and the combined extracts were dried. After removal at the solvent in vacuo, the crude product was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent : a mixture of hexane and ethyl acetate, 2:1). The resultant oily residue (840 mg) was distilled in vacuo to give methyl 2-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]acrylate (644 mg).

Provenance & Evidence