Ethanol → Diethyl 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)malonate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium (1.86 g, 0.081M) was added in portions to absolute ethanol (150 ml) with stirring. After all the sodium had dissolved a solution of ethyl 2,4-dichlorophenylacetate (20 g) in diethyl carbonate (50 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was heated until EtOH distilled over. The rate of addition was controlled such that it equalled the rate of distillation. After the completion of addition the reaction mixture was heated and distilled for further 4 hours. The cooled reaction mixture was partitioned between water (300 ml) and EtOAc (300 ml) and the organic layer dried and evaporated in vacuo to give a yellow oil (21 g, 85%).

Provenance & Evidence