Sodium Hydroxide → 2-Oxosuccinamic acid

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Reaction Steps

The 4-amino-2,4-dioxobutanoic acid was synthesized using the diethyl-2-cyano-3-hydroxy-butenedioate prepared as described above. A 5-liter Morton flask was equipped with an air condenser. Diethyl-2-cyano3-hydroxy-butenedioate (214.2.grams, 1.00 mole, 1.0 equivalent) was dissolved in aqueous sodium hydroxide (1.0 M, 1000 milliliters, 4.0 equivalents) at room temperature in the flask while stirring the contents of the flask. After about one minute, a heating mantle was placed underneath the flask. Using the heating mantle, the flask was heated sufficiently for reflux while the reaction mixture was stirred. After about 4½ hours at reflux, the heat was removed and the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature and was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction solution was placed into an ice-water bath and acidified using 6M HCl until the pH of was equal to about 1. Solids formed after about 5 minutes. The solids were filtered. The colorless solids (27 grams) were analyzed by NMR and were found to include carbonate (13C-NMR δ=162 ppm). The bulk of the water was evaporated using a rotary evaporator at about 40° C. The solids were stirred in acetone (1000 milliliters) and then filtered. The acetone was then removed under a vacuum using a rotary evaporator followed by a vacuum pump to yield the 4-amino-2,4-dioxobutanoic acid in 56% yield (74 grams) as a light yellow solid that was used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence