Acetic Acid → Benzyl 3-(methylamino)but-2-enoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of benzyl acetoacetate (57.6 g, 300 mmol) in MeOH (50 mL) in a 350 mL pressure vessel was added H2NMe (150 mL of a 2M solution in MeOH, 300 mmol) and acetic acid (2 mL). The capped vessel was placed in an oil bath at 70° C. and the reaction mixture was stirred for 16 hours. After the mixture had cooled to room temperature, the solvent was evaporated in vacuo leaving a yellow emulsion, which was dissolved in EtOAc (500 mL) and MgSO4 was added to remove water. The drying agent was filtered off, and the solvent evaporated in vacuo to give benzyl 3-(Methylamino)but-2-enoate as a viscous yellow oil in quantitative yield 60 g which was used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence