(3-Bromopropyl)benzene → 2-Amino-5-phenylpentanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Diethyl acetamidomalonate (220 g) in 1 L of absolute ethanol was added to a stirred solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol, prepared by dissolving sodium (24 g) in absolute ethanol (500 mL), under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was refluxed under nitrogen for 30 minutes, then 1-bromo-3-phenylpropane (200g) was added. The reaction mixture was refluxed overnight, cooled to ambient temperature, filtered, and the solvent was removed under vacuum. Concentrated HCl (800 mL) was added to the residue, and the reaction mixture was refluxed for 14 hours. The cooled aqueous solution was washed with ether, and the residual ether in the aqueous phase was removed by bubbling nitrogen through the solution. The pH of the aqueous phase was adjusted to pH 7-8 by the addition of ammonium hydroxide. The title compound was collected by filtration, air dried and recrystallized from ethanol-water (150 g) m.p. 255-257° C. MS m/z: 194 (M+H)+.

Provenance & Evidence