Methyl iodide → Cyclopentanecarboxylic acid, 1-methyl-2-oxo-, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of methyl 2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate (67 g, 0.47 mol), K2CO3 (163 g, 1.18 mol) and MeI (167 g, 1.18 mol) in acetone (500 mL) was heated under reflux for 12 h. The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and then concentrated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (800 mL) and the resulting solution was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 (500 mL×3) and brine (300 mL×1), dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness. The residue was purified by distillation to afford methyl 1-methyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate (60.5 g, 82% yield).

Provenance & Evidence