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Org. Synth. 1953, 33, 25
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.033.0025
DIETHYL γ-OXOPIMELATE
[Heptanedioic acid, 4-oxo-, diethyl ester]
Submitted by W. S. Emerson and R. I. Longley, Jr.1.
Checked by William S. Johnson and I. A. David.
1. Procedure
A 3-l. three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux condenser, and gas inlet tube is charged with 476 g. (3.45 moles) of furylacrylic acid2 and 1580 g. (about 33 moles) of 95% ethanol (Note 1). The mixture is heated to boiling, and anhydrous hydrogen chloride is introduced at such a rate that the mixture becomes saturated after 90 minutes. The gas inlet tube is replaced by a stopper, and a 2-ft. Vigreux column is substituted for the reflux condenser. About 250 ml. of solvent is removed by distillation at atmospheric pressure; then another 300 ml. is removed while the pressure is slowly reduced (water aspirator). The residue is cooled and stirred with a solution of about 260 g. of sodium carbonate in water (Note 2). The mixture is extracted with two 250-ml. portions of benzene, and the combined extracts are washed with 100 ml. of water (Note 3). Distillation of the organic portion through a 2-ft. Vigreux column yields, after a small fore-run, 579–657 g. (73–83%) of diethyl γ-oxopimelate, b.p. 116–121° /0.3 mm., nD25 1.4395–1.4400.
2. Notes
1. If absolute ethanol is used the yield is much lower.
2. A slight excess of sodium carbonate is used. The amount required depends on the amount of hydrogen chloride remaining after the distillation.
3. Sodium chloride may be added if the layers do not separate.
3. Discussion
Diethyl γ-oxopimelate has been prepared by saturating an ethanol solution of furylacrylic acid3,4,5,6,7 or γ-oxopimelic acid dilactone with hydrogen chloride5 or sulfuric acid.8 It was found as a by-product in the esterification of furylacrylic acid with ethanol in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid.9 A mechanism has been proposed for the formation of esters of γ-oxopimelic acid from furylacrylic acid.10 The present procedure is a modification of the original Marckwald process.3,4

References and Notes
  1. Monsanto Chemical Company, Dayton, Ohio.
  2. Org. Syntheses Coll. Vol. 3, 425 (1955).
  3. Marckwald, Ber., 20, 2811 (1887).
  4. Marckwald, Ber., 21, 1398 (1888).
  5. Volhard, Ann., 253, 206 (1889).
  6. Chichibabin, Chim. & ind. (Paris), 27, 563 (1932).
  7. Komppa, Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae, A51, No. 3 (1938) [C. A., 34, 2335 (1940)].
  8. Reppe et al., Ann., 596, 80 (1955).
  9. Murahashi, Bull. Inst. Phys. Chem. Research (Tokyo), 22, 476 (1943) [C. A., 42, 1205 (1948)].
  10. Gavat and Glineschi, Rev. chim. (Bucharest), 7, 575 (1956) [C. A., 52, 1991 (1958)].

Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)

γ-oxopimelic acid dilactone

ethanol (64-17-5)

sulfuric acid (7664-93-9)

hydrogen chloride (7647-01-0)

Benzene (71-43-2)

sodium chloride (7647-14-5)

sodium carbonate (497-19-8)

Furylacrylic acid (539-47-9)

DIETHYL γ-OXOPIMELATE,
Heptanedioic acid, 4-oxo-, diethyl ester (6317-49-3)

γ-oxopimelic acid (502-50-1)

p-toluenesulfonic acid (104-15-4)