Ethanol → Ethyl (2E)-4-oxo-4-phenyl-2-butenoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 3.00 g of β-benzoylacrylic acid (cis/trans =1/2 according to 1H NMR analysis), 10 ml of ethanol and 0.63 g of sulfuric acid was refluxed for 2 hours. A pressure was gradually reduced with the aspirator and ethanol was distilled away for 10 minutes. After a pressure was finally reduced to 20 mmHg, the resultant was stirred at 85° C. for 40 minutes and then cooled, followed by the procedure as in Example 1 to give 2.45 g of ethyl trans-β-benzoylacrylate.

Provenance & Evidence