Water → Dimethyl 3-aminopentanedioate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Dimethyl 3-ketoglutarate (13 g) in methanol (50 ml) was treated with ammonium formate (5 g) and NaCNBH3 (2 g). 10 ml of H2O was added and the excess solvent removed under reduced pressure. The semi-solid was dissolved in 5% aqueous HCl (250 ml), and washed with CH2Cl2 (2×50 ml). The aqueous layer was made basic (pH>9) with K2CO3 and the product was extracted using CH2Cl2 (2×75 ml). The organic layers were combined and dried with Na2SO4. The excess solvent was removed to give 2.5 g of the dimethyl (±)3-aminoglutarate. This was dissolved in methanol (50 ml) and treated with 4N HCl/Dioxane (10 ml). The excess solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give a 2.7 g of dimethyl (±)3-aminoglutarate hydrochloride. MS and 1H-NMR were consistent with the desired product.

Provenance & Evidence