Tetrahydrofuran → Methyl 2-methyl-4-hydroxybutyrate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 0.05 mmol RuHCl(H2)(PCy3)2, 0.54 mmol methyl-3-cyano-isobutyrate (prepared by addition of HCN to methyl methacrylate), 17.7 g THF, 15.3 g water, and 0.0596 g cyclododecane (internal standard for gc analysis) was stirred in an autoclave and heated to 100° C. under 7000 kPa H2. After 3.2 hours, the nitrile was completely and cleanly converted to methyl-butyrolactone, which formed by transesterification/cyclization of the intermediate hydroxyester, methyl 2-methyl-4-hydroxybutyrate.

Provenance & Evidence