Water → 3-Acetyl-5-Ethyldihydro-2(3H)-Furanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-acetyl-4-ethyl butyrolactone was prepared from ethylacetoacetate and 1,2-epoxybutane according to the method described in Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 2,443,827. A mixture of 40 g sodium hydroxide (1.0 mole), 270 ml water and 90 ml ethanol was cooled to 0°, stirred, and 130 g ethylacetoacetate (1.0 mole) and 72 g 1,2-epoxybutane (1.0 mole) added. Stirring was continued at 0°, and the mixture was thereafter left at 4° C. for 48 hours. The reaction mixture was neutralized with 80 ml acetic acid, extracted with toluene, washed with water, sodium bicarbonate and finally with water. The mixture was then dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and the solvent removed, leaving a product, bp 86°-96°-/0.1 mm, in 45% yield.

Provenance & Evidence