Diethyl Malonate → Diethyl tetrahydropyran-4,4-dicarboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of diethyl malonate (15.2 mL, 99.8 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol [freshly prepared from sodium (2.3 g, 100 mmol) and ethanol (30 mL)] at ambient temperature and stirred for 10 min. Bis(2-chloroethyl)ether (12 mL, 102 mmol) was added dropwise then the mixture was heated at reflux overnight. It was then cooled to 10° C. before another portion of freshly-prepared sodium ethoxide in ethanol [prepared from sodium (2.3 g, 100 mmol) and ethanol (30 mL)] was added. The mixture was heated at reflux for 48 h then cooled, filtered to remove the precipitated sodium chloride then the filtrate was concentrated to dryness. Water was added to the residue which was then extracted with ether (3×25 mL). The combined ether layers were washed with water, brine and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Concentration under reduced pressure yielded tetrahydropyran-4,4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (10.1 g, 44%) as a mobile oil.

Provenance & Evidence