Propanoic acid, 2-bromo-2-methyl-, ethyl ester → Ethyl 2-(acetylthio)-2-methylpropanoate

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of ethyl α-bromoisobutyrate (62 g, 0.32 mol) in DMF (500 mL) at room temperature is added potassium thioacetate (72 g, 0.63 mol). The reaction is stirred for 16 h and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue is diluted with a 2M aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (500 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×500 mL). The organic fractions are combined, washed with brine (300 mL), dried over MgSO4, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by chromatography on silica eluting with heptanes/dichloromethane provides 44 g of 2-acetylsulfanyl-2-methyl-propionic acid ethyl ester. Yield: 73%; m/z 191 [M+H]; 1H NMR (250 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 1.18-1.30 (3H, m), 1.57 (6H, s), 2.27 (3H, s), 4.19 (2H, q, J=7.16 Hz)

Provenance & Evidence