Sodium Hydroxide → Isobutylmalonic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 91.1 g of 2-(ethyloxycarbonyl)-4-methylpentanoic acid, ethyl ester in 300 ml of methanol is treated for 6 hours at 80° C. with 400 ml of 10% sodium hydroxide. The solution is concentrated in vacuo to 400 ml and acidified with 10% hydrochloric acid. The product is extracted with ethyl acetate to yield 67.6 g of the title compound, which crystallizes on standing. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane yields the title compound, melting point 102°-105° C.

Provenance & Evidence