Dimethyl malate → 3,4-Dihydroxybutanoic acid gamma-lactone

Participants

Reaction Steps

[Ru(CH3CN)3(triphos)](CF3SO3)2 (11.5 mg), dimethyl DL-malate (0.65 g), and 1.0 ml of methanol were added into a 20-ml Schlenk tube under an argon atmosphere, and the mixture was stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature. This liquid was transferred to a 100-ml autoclave having a stirrer placed inside, under an argon atmosphere. The autoclave was purged with hydrogen, and then hydrogen was further included in the autoclave up to 4.0 MPa. The contents of the autoclave were heated and stirred at 100° C. for 14 hours. After cooling, the reaction liquid was analyzed by gas chromatography, and it was found that 1,2,4-butanetriol was produced at a yield of 30.6%, β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone at a yield of 42.3%, and methyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate at a yield of 21.4%.

Provenance & Evidence