Dichloroacetic Acid → Isoprene

Participants

Reaction Steps

In contrast, the use of dichloroacetic acid (a liquid, bp: 194° C.; Ka =5.53×10-2) in molar excess in the above reaction results in a moderate yield (approximately 50%) of the corresponding ester (prenyl dichloroacetate, systematically named, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl dichloroaceate). Addition of a minor amount of an alkali-metal or alkaline-earth metallic salt or metallic salt of dichloroacetic acid (i.e., the conjugate base of dichloroacetic acid) to the reaction mixture containing dichloroacetic acid resulted in a better conversion of isoprene to prenyl dichloroacetate: 70-95% yields of the ester were obtained. This metallic salt is continuously regenerated in the reaction process.

Provenance & Evidence