Ethanol → Ethyl 4-benzylmorpholine-2-carboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A stirred solution of 4-benzyl-morpholine-2-carbonitrile (113.0 g, 0.56 mol) in ethanol (1030 mL) is treated with concentrated sulphuric acid (165 mL) added in portions. (exothermic, internal temperature rises from ambient to 65° C.). The mixture is then warmed under reflux for 66 hrs. The solution is cooled and then concentrated in vacuo to half volume, basified with aqueous potassium carbonate (beware frothing) and the product extracted into diethyl ether. The organic phase is dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to dryness in vacuo to yield an oil. This material is evacuated further under high vacuum. Yield=121.3 g (87%).

Provenance & Evidence