Methanol → 1,4-dimethyl (2R)-2-hydroxybutanedioate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To an ice cooled solution of methanol (250 mL) was added acetyl chloride (12.5 mL), and the solution was stirred for 1 hour at 0° C. (R)-Malic acid (20.0 g) was added, and the solution was stirred for 16 hours at room temperature. Solvent was removed by evaporation in vacuo leaving a quantitative yield of (R)-2-hydroxysuccinic acid dimethyl ester as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence