Isopropanol → Propan-2-yl 4-methyl-3-oxopentanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Methyl 4-methyl-3-oxo-pentanoate (304 g), isopropyl alcohol (500 ml) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (3.8 g) were stirred together and heated to reflux at 90° C. After 3 hours, 400 ml of solvent was collected by distillation at atmospheric pressure. Fresh isopropyl alcohol was added and the mixture refluxed for a further 3 hours. The cycle of distillation, addition of fresh solvent and refluxing was continued until the conversion had reached 95%, determined by a peak area ratio of product:starting material of 95:5 measured by LC. The remaining volatile solvents were removed by distillation and the resultant liquid washed with 10% sodium carbonate solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and filtered to give isopropyl 4-methyl-3-oxo-pentanoate as a clear liquid (301 g, 83%).

Provenance & Evidence