Diethyl Oxalate → Ethyl 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,4-dioxobutanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In 100 ml of ethanol was dissolved 4.2 g (1.1 eq.) of sodium, and a mixture of 25.0 g of 4-methoxyacetophenone and 27 ml (1.2 eq.) of diethyl oxalate was added dropwise under reflux. After 2 hours' reflux, the resulting crystals were collected by filtration. After 200 ml of 1N hydrochloric acid was added, the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride and dried. The solvent was distilled off. The resulting crystals were collected by filtration with hexane.

Provenance & Evidence