6-Acetylaminocaproic acid → Methyl 6-acetamidohexanoate

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Methyl 6-acetamidohexanoate was prepared as a low-melting solid by sequential treatment of 6-acetamido hexanoic acid with thionyl chloride and methanol. Five grams of this compound, (27 mmol) was dissolved in an excess of 40% aqueous methylamine solution, and the resulting mixture was stirred for sixteen hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was saturated with sodium chloride and extracted several times with chloroform. The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was removed in vauo to yield a crude residue. Recrystallization from THF yielded 4.5 grams (90%) of pure product, melting point 99°-100° C.

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