4-Biphenylylacetic acid ethyl ester → Diethyl 2-(4-Biphenylyl)malonate

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of ethyl (4′-biphenyl)acetate (7.1 g) in 60 ml of diethylcarbonate, kept under nitrogen atmosphere, is added portionwise with sodium (0.734 g), then it is heated at 120° C. for 3 hours. The solvent is evaporated off and the residue is dissolved in 65 ml of cold water and acidified with acetic acid until pH=5-6 is reached. The aqueous phase is then extracted three times with diethyl ether and the pooled organic extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to dryness. The residue is purified by silica gel chromatography (eluent:petroleum ether/diethyl ether 9.4:0.6) to give 7.05 g of the product, m.p. 51-53° C.

Provenance & Evidence