Formaldehyde → Dimethyl itaconate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

60 g of paraformaldehyde are added to a solution of 6.0 g of acetic acid and 6.75 g of dimethylamine in 800 g of methanol, after which 348 g of dimethyl 2-formylsuccinate are added dropwise in the course of 20 minutes. The mixture is stirred for 7 hours at 50° C. and allowed to cool, and methanol and methyl formate are distilled off. The residue is taken up in ethyl acetate and the solution is washed with 100 g of 10% strength sulfuric acid and distilled. 305 g of isomer-free dimethyl itaconate of boiling point 42°-43° C. under 0.3-0.4 mbar are obtained, corresponding to a yield of 96.4% of theory.

Provenance & Evidence