Bromine (approximately 15 ml.) is added dropwise to 50 g. (0.271 mole) of 10-undecenoic acid (Note 1) dissolved in 210 ml. of dry ether with constant stirring while the temperature is maintained below 0° until the color of bromine persists. The excess bromine is then removed by the addition of a few drops of 10-undecenoic acid.

The sodamide for dehydrobromination of dibromohendecanoic acid is prepared according to the method of Khan et al.,² with some modifications (Note 2). A 3-l. three-necked flask is equipped with a stirrer and a Dry Ice-acetone cold finger reflux condenser attached through a drying tube to a trap and a bubbler filled with a saturated ammonia solution. After the condenser has been cooled with a mixture of Dry Ice and acetone, 1.5 l. of liquid ammonia is introduced into the flask through an inlet tube. Stirring is started, and 1.2–1.5 g. of ferric chloride (C.P., anhydrous, black) is added to the liquid ammonia in one portion as quickly as possible. Within 20 seconds after this addition, 6 g. of metallic sodium is dropped into the brown solution in two portions in order to convert the iron salt into catalytic iron. When the evolution of hydrogen gas ceases, the remainder of the sodium (total amount, 27.7 g., 1.2 g. atoms) is added in pieces and the solution is stirred for an additional 30 minutes (Note 3).

Finally, the solution of 10,11-dibromohendecanoic acid in absolute ether is added slowly from a separatory funnel to the reaction flask. The reaction mixture is then stirred for 6 hours. After an additional hour (Note 4) of stirring, during which time the cold-finger condenser is removed from the system, an excess of solid ammonium chloride (40 g., 0.74 mole) is introduced slowly into the reaction mixture to destroy excess sodamide. The ammonia is allowed to evaporate, 400–500 ml. of water is added, and the mixture is stirred until all the solid is broken up and dissolved (Note 5).

The water solution containing the sodium salt of the product is acidified with 6N hydrochloric acid and then extracted with three 200-ml. portions of ether. The ethereal extracts are combined, washed with water (until the aqueous phase shows a pH in the range 5–6), and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After removal of the solvent, the red-colored residual oil is fractionally distilled through a packed column (Note 6). The middle portion (26–28 g.) distilling at 124–130°/3 mm. is crystallized twice from petroleum ether (b.p. 30–60°) to obtain white crystals of 10-undecynoic acid. The end fractions also yield some white product after 4–5 crystallizations. A total yield of 19–24 g. (38–49%) is obtained; m.p. 42.5–43°.