Diethyl Carbonate → Ethyl 3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxy-alpha-cyanobenzeneacetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

1.4 g of sodium was dissolved in absolute EtOH with warming to 70° C., then EtOH was removed under vacuum to give a white solid residue of NaOEt. A mixture of 35 ml of diethyl carbonate, 43 ml of toluene, 13.46 g of 3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxyphenyl acetonitrile was added slowly. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. EtOH was removed under vacuum. The solid was filtered and washed with toluene (3×) and ether (3×). The solid was suspended in 200 ml of H2O and acidified with 6N HCl. The solid dissolved and a brown oil formed. The oil was extracted with ether (3×), the combined ether extracts were washed with H2O (2×), saturated NaCl (2×) and finally dried over MgSO4. The ether was removed under vacuum to give 16 g (92% yield) of ethyl 3-methoxy-5-methylthio-4-propoxy-α-cyanobenzeneacetate.

Provenance & Evidence