2-Cyano-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid → 2-Cyano-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium borohydride (30.2 g) is added portionwise over a period of 2 hours to a stirred mixture of α-cyano-4-methoxycinnamic acid (52.5 g) in aqueous saturated NaHCO3 (200 ml) and methanol (600 ml) cooled to about 15° C. The reaction mixture is allowed to warm to RT, stirred at RT for 30 min and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is partitioned between water and ether and the aqueous layer acidified and extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and the filtrate evaporated in vacuo producing a liquid which is crystallized from toluene yielding the desired product as a solid, M.P. 94°-95° C.

Provenance & Evidence