In a 1-l. round-bottomed flask attached to a Dean and Stark constant water separator (Note 1) which is connected to a reflux condenser are placed 46.5 g. (45.5 ml., 0.5 mole) of redistilled aniline, 65 g. (63.5 ml., 0.5 mole) of commercial ethyl acetoacetate, 100 ml. of benzene, and 1 ml. of glacial acetic acid. The flask is heated in an oil bath at about 125°, and the water which distils out of the mixture with the refluxing benzene is removed at intervals. Refluxing is continued until no more water separates (9 ml. collects in about 3 hours) and then for an additional 30 minutes. The benzene is then distilled under reduced pressure, and the residue is transferred to a 125-ml. modified Claisen flask with an insulated column. The flask is heated in an oil or metal bath maintained at a temperature not higher than 120° while the fore-run of aniline and ethyl acetoacetate is removed by distillation under reduced pressure, and at 140–160° during distillation of the product (Note 2). The yield of ethyl β-anilinocrotonate boiling at 128–130° /2 mm., n_D25 1.5770, is 78–82 g. (76–80%).