Diethyl Carbonate → Ethyl 3-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-Oxopropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of sodium hydride (29.5 g of 60% oil dispersion, washed free of oil with hexane) in diethyl carbonate (88 mL, 0.726 mol) at room temperature under argon was added dropwise over 30 minutes p-fluoroacetophenone (50.0 g, 0.362 mol). Ethanol (0.1 mL) was added during the addition to initiate the reaction. After 2/3 of the ketone had been added, white solid had separated and Et2O (600 mL) was added to facilitate stirring. When the addition was complete the mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. The mixture was then placed in an ice bath, and the reaction was quenched by the dropwise addition of water (100 mL) and 5% KHSO4 solution (100 mL). The mixture was acidified with 10% H2SO4, the organic phase separated and washed with saturated NaHCO3 and saturated NaCl solutions, dried (MgSO4) and evaporated. The residue was distilled in vacuo to give title compound (59.66 g, 78%) as a colorless liquid, bp 115°-118° C. (1 mmHg).

Provenance & Evidence