Methyl iodide → 1,3-Cyclopentanedione, 2,2-dimethyl-

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Reaction Steps

Synthesized according to Agosta and Smith, J. Org. Chem. 35: 3856 (1970) A mixture of 2-methyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione (10.025 g, 89.4 mmol, Aldrich), methyl iodide (6.0 mL, 96.4 mmol, Aldrich), and KOH (5.097 g, 90.8 mmol) in water (25 mL)/dioxane (75 mL) was heated at reflux. After 5 hours, a solution of KOH (2 g) and MeI (2.4 mL) in water (5 mL)/dioxane (15 mL) was added and after another 3 hours at reflux, the solution was stirred at room temperature overnight. A solution of KOH (2 g) and MeI (2.4 mL) in water (5 mL)/dioxane (15 mL) was added to the overnight reaction and heating at reflux. After 4 hours, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and extracted with ether (1×100 mL, 3×75 mL). The combined ether extracts were evaporated, the residue combined with 10% HCl (50 mL), and the resulting mixture placed in a 120° C. oil bath until it began boiling (ca. 15 minutes). The mixture was cooled to room temperature, neutralized by addition of saturated NaHCO3 solution (150 mL) and the resulting mixture extracted with CH2Cl2 (4×75 mL). The combined CH2Cl2 solution was dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated to leave a brown oil (10.474 g, 83 mmol, 93%) which was used directly in the next step.

Provenance & Evidence