Org. Synth. 1925, 5, 53
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.005.0053
ETHYL ACETONEDICARBOXYLATE
[Glutaric acid, β-oxo-, diethyl ester]
Submitted by Roger Adams and H. M. Chiles.
Checked by H. T. Clarke and T. F. Murray.
1. Procedure
The crude
acetonedicarboxylic acid from 700 g. (3.64 moles) of citric acid, as described on
p. 10, is treated with
700 g. (882 cc.) of absolute ethyl alcohol (
pp. 249 and
259)
(Note 1) to which has been added at least
130–150 g. of dry hydrogen chloride (p. 293). The mixture is placed in a
flask fitted with a stopper holding a
calcium chloride tube and then is heated to 45°. It is kept in a
water bath at 45° (bath temperature) with frequent shaking until all the acid is dissolved (fifteen to twenty minutes). The solution is allowed to cool down to room temperature in the bath and finally to stand about twelve hours
(Note 2).
The contents of the flask are then poured into 1300–1400 cc. of ice water, the ester layer separated, and the water-alcohol layer extracted twice with 700-cc. portions of benzene. The benzene extracts are added to the original ester, which has been separated. The total solution thus obtained is washed with about 400 cc. of 10 per cent sodium carbonate solution to remove the acid, then once with dilute sulfuric acid, and finally twice with 400-cc. portions of water (Note 3). The benzene is distilled on a water bath, and the ester is distilled under reduced pressure. A small low-boiling fraction comes over first, and then the ester, which boils at 131–136°/9–10 mm. or 145–148°/17 mm. (Note 4). The yield of product amounts to 284–315 g. (39–43 per cent of the theoretical amount based on the citric acid).
2. Notes
1.
The directions given in the literature call for a smaller amount of alcohol than that given in the procedure, but more consistent results were obtained with the method described.
2.
The ester should be isolated from the reaction mixture after twelve hours. Longer standing causes a decreased yield.
3.
One of the chief precautions which must be observed, if good yields are to be obtained, is thorough and careful washing of the
benzene and ester mixture. If this is not done, decomposition occurs during distillation and the yields are lowered by about one-third.
4.
The ester must be distilled under low pressure (less than 20 mm.) or considerable decomposition occurs.
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3. Discussion
Ethyl acetonedicarboxylate can be prepared by the esterification of
acetonedicarboxylic acid1 and of
ethyl γ-cyanoacetoacetate.
2
This preparation is referenced from:
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
ethyl alcohol (64-17-5)
sulfuric acid (7664-93-9)
hydrogen chloride (7647-01-0)
Benzene (71-43-2)
Acetonedicarboxylic acid
citric acid (77-92-9)
sodium carbonate (497-19-8)
Ethyl acetonedicarboxylate
Glutaric acid, β-oxo-, diethyl ester (105-50-0)
ethyl γ-cyanoacetoacetate
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