Acetic Acid → Ethyl 3-(methylamino)-3-phenylacrylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of ethyl benzoylacetate (30 g, 156 mmol) and methylamine (2 M in THF, 390 mL, 780 mmol) in EtOH (150 mL), was added acetic acid (44.7 mL, 780 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux with stirring for 15 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, concentrated and partitioned between DCM and 1M HCl. The phases were separated and the organic layer dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated to give the title compound (32 g), used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence