Diethyl Malonate → Diethyl 2-(2-bromobenzyl)malonate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Diethyl malonate (77 g, 0.48 mol) was added to a stirred solution of sodium (10.2 g, 0.425 mol) in ethanol (800 ml) followed by 2-bromobenzyl bromide (100 g, 0.40 mol). Sodium bromide began to separate towards the end of the addition and the mixture became warm. The reaction was completed by refluxing on a steam bath for 3 hours and then cooling overnight. The bulk of the solvent was removed in vacuo, water was added and the product extracted into ether. After drying (CaCl2) and evaporation the product was distilled to give 93.28 g (71%) of material of bp0.2 130° C. (lit bp0.004 115°-120° C., F. G. Holliman and F. G. Mann J. Chem. Soc. 9, [1960]).

Provenance & Evidence