Potassium Hydroxide → N-benzyl-trans-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxamide

Participants

Reaction Steps

In an Erlenmeyer flask containing Et2O (300 mL) and aq. 40% KOH (11 mL) with vigorous stirring was added 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (11.1 g, 67 mmol) portionwise over 5 min. at rt. Upon complete addition stirring was ceased and the aq. layer frozen in a −78° bath. The ether layer was decanted into an Erlenmeyer with KOH pellets. The contents allowed to stand for 5 min., decanted into a third flask with KOH pellets and then poured onto a Et2O/THF solution (200 mL/50 mL) containing (2E)-N-benzylbut-2-enamide (3.0 g, 17.1 mmol from step A). Pd(OAc)2 (180 mg, 0.9 mmol) was subsequently added and the reaction allowed to warm to rt and stir for 1 h. Nitrogen was bubbled through the reaction for 10 min. The mixture was washed with H2O (150 mL). The organic layer was isolated and subsequently dried over Na2SO4. Solvent removal and purification by flash chromatography on SiO2 (EtOAc/hexanes) gave N-benzyl-trans-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxamide (83%): 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.28 (m, 5H), 5.81 (br s, 1H), 4.43 (dd, J=5.6, 2.4 Hz, 2H), 1.37 (m, 1H), 1.17 (m, 1H), 1.07 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 1.04 (overlapping m, 1H), 0.56 (m, 1H).

Provenance & Evidence