4-Methyl-3-oxo-1-(phenylmethyl)proline ethyl ester → 1-Benzyl-4-methylpyrrolidin-3-one

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A 30.15 g (115.4 mmol) sample of the ester from step c was hydrolyzed and decarboxylated by adding to 280 mL of 1M HCl and heating at 100° C. under reflux conditions for 12 hours. The mixture was then poured over ice and the impurities extracted into methylene chloride. The aqueous solution was then adjusted to pH 8 with potassium carbonate and the product extracted into methylene chloride, which was then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed by evaporation under vacuum, to yield 9.95 g of 1-benzyl-4-methylpyrrolidin-3-one, NMR (CDCl3) d 1.12 (d, 3H, J=7.5 Hz), 2.50 (m, 1H), 2.75 (m, 2H), 3.33 (m, 2H), 3.69 (d, 2H, J=7.5 Hz), 7.32 (m, 5H).

Provenance & Evidence