Water → methyl (E,E)-4-methyl-2,4-octadienoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a 28 wt % solution of sodium methoxide in methanol (112.6 g) at 10° C. were added dropwise diethyl phosphonoacetic acid ethyl ester (110.75 g) and (E)-2-methyl-2-hexenal (50.36 g) successively under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours, poured into chilled water and extracted with dichloromethane. The extract was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and evaporated to give 74.88 g of crude methyl (E,E)-4-methyl-2,4-octadienoate as an oil. This oil was used in the next reaction without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence