Water → Ethyl 3-oxohexanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

176 g of 2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-dioxane (Meldrum's acid) are dissolved in 550 ml of methylene chloride and 188 ml of pyridine. The mixture is cooled to 5° C. with a bath of water and ice and 133 ml of butyryl chloride are added dropwise. When the addition is complete, the mixture is stirred for three hours at room temperature. The solution is washed with a dilute solution of hydrochloric acid, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated under vacuum to give an oil. This oil is dissolved in 700 ml of ethanol and the mixture is refluxed for six hours. The ethanol is evaporated off under vacuum and the residue obtained is distilled to give 145.4 g of ethyl 3-oxohexanoate in the form of an oil.

Provenance & Evidence