Pinacolone → methyl 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-dioxohexanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

57.2 g (1.06 mols) of sodium methylate are suspended in 400 g of dehydrated pinacolin. 118 g of molten oxalic acid dimethyl ester are added dropwise to the suspension in the course of 1 hour. The temperature is kept at 10° C. during this addition. The mixture is subsequently stirred for 15 minutes and 84 g of a methanol/pinacolin mixture are then distilled off at 64° C. The bottom product is cooled to 50° C. and 252 g of aqueous sulphuric acid (20.9% strength by weight) are added. Separation of the phases and subsequent distillation of the organic phase gives 164.6 g of pivaloylpyruvic acid methyl ester (87.8% of the theoretical yield), purity: 99.3%.

Provenance & Evidence