Benzyl Alcohol → Ethyl 4-(benzyloxy)-3-oxobutanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred suspension of NaH (3 g, 0.1 mmol, 80% oil dispersion previously washed with hexanes), in THF (75 ml, distilled from Na) was added dropwise neat benzyl alcohol (10.3 g, 0.1 mmol) at rt. Stirring was continued until H2 evolution had ceased, then ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (8.23 g, 0.05 mmol) in THF (20 ml) was added dropwise to this solution in a cooling water bath. The reaction was stirred at rt overnight. The mixture was partitioned between ether and 1N HCl, the layers separated, and the aqueous further extracted with ether (x 2). The combined ether extracts were washed twice with water and then brine and dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to give 17.83 g crude product. Distillation (119-124° C., 0.2 mm Hg) afforded a yellow oil. (7.34 g, 62%)

Provenance & Evidence