Formaldehyde → Ethyl 2-methylidenebutanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 5.0 g (0.019 mol) of triethyl 2-phosphonobutyrate, 5.5 g (0.039 mol) of K2CO3, 6.2 g (0.076 mol) of 37% aqueous formaldehyde solution, and 15 mL of water was heated to about 80° C. for about 45 min. After cooling to RT, 75 mL of ether was added and the organic layer was separated, washed with brine (1×20 mL), dried (MgSO4), and filtered. The ether was carefully removed by distillation, leaving behind 2.1 g (87%) of the title compound as a clear oil which was used directly without further purification. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 1.01 (3 H, t, J=7), 1.24 (3 H, t, J=7), 2.26 (2 H, q, J=7), 4.14 (2 H, q, J=7), 5.45 (1 H, s), 6.06 (1 H, s).

Provenance & Evidence