Acetoin → 2,4,5-Trimethylfuran-3-carboxylic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (90g.) ethyl acetoacetate (175g.), absolute ethanol (150 ml.) and anhydrous zinc chloride (100g.) was heated under reflux for 24 hours. The cooled solution was poured into water and extracted with benzene. The benzene extract was washed successively with 30% aqueous sodium bisulfite, 5% sodium hydroxide, dilute hydrochloric acid and finally with water. The solvent was removed and the residual ester saponified with aqueous-alcoholic alkali as in example 18 to yield 149 g. or 96% yield of the 2,4,5-trimethyl-3-furoic acid.

Provenance & Evidence