Org. Synth. 1956, 36, 25
DOI: 10.15227/orgsyn.036.0025
ETHYL DIAZOACETATE
[Acetic acid, diazo-, ethyl ester]
Submitted by N. E. Searle
1
Checked by Melvin S. Newman, G. F. Ottmann, and C. F. Grundmann.
1. Procedure
Diazoacetic esters are potentially explosive and therefore must be handled with caution. They are also toxic and prone to cause development of specific sensitivity. A well-ventilated hood should be used for the entire procedure.
A solution of
140 g. (1 mole) of ethyl glycinate hydrochloride2 in 250 ml. of water is mixed with
600 ml. of methylene chloride in a
2-l. four-necked round-bottomed flask fitted with a
stirrer,
dropping funnel,
thermometer, and
nitrogen inlet tube, and cooled to −5°
(Note 1). The flask is flushed with
nitrogen and an ice-cold solution of
83 g. (1.2 moles) of sodium nitrite in 250 ml. of water is added with stirring. The temperature is lowered to −9°
(Note 1), and
95 g. of 5% (by weight) sulfuric acid is added from the dropping funnel during a period of about 3 minutes
(Note 2). The temperature may rise to a maximum of +1° with the cooling bath at −23°
(Note 3). The reaction terminates within 10 minutes, when heat is no longer evolved.
The reaction mixture is transferred to an ice-cold 2-l. separatory funnel, and the yellow-green methylene chloride layer is run into 1 l. of cold 5% sodium bicarbonate solution. The aqueous layer is extracted once with 75 ml. of methylene chloride. The methylene chloride and sodium bicarbonate solutions are returned to the separatory funnel and shaken until no trace of acid remains, as shown by indicator paper (Note 4). The golden yellow organic layer is separated, transferred to a dry separatory funnel, and shaken for 5 minutes with 15 g. of granular anhydrous sodium sulfate. The dried ethyl diazoacetate solution is filtered through a cotton plug inserted in the separatory funnel stem, and the bulk of the solvent is distilled through an efficient column at a pressure of about 350 mm. (Note 5). The last traces of solvent are removed at a pressure of 20 mm. and a maximum pot temperature of 35° (Note 6). The yield is 90–100 g. (79–88%) of yellow oil, nD25 1.462. This product is pure enough for most synthetic work (Note 7) and (Note 8).
2. Notes
1.
Lower temperatures may induce the solid
methylene chloride dihydrate to separate and interfere with stirring. An
acetone bath into which lumps of Dry Ice are introduced as required affords easily controlled cooling.
2.
The stated amount of acid has been found sufficient to provide the strongly acidic medium which the reaction requires.
3.
Higher reaction temperatures may result in reduced yields.
4.
Traces of acid must be eliminated before the
diazoacetate solution is concentrated.
5.
Efficient solvent separation is indicated by absence of yellow color in the distillate. An
18-in. column packed with Berl saddles is satisfactory.
6.
Higher temperatures should be avoided because of the explosive character of
ethyl diazoacetate. The product should be placed in dark brown bottles and kept in a cool place. It should be used as soon as possible.
7.
Distillation through a
7-in. column packed with glass helices gives a
65% over-all yield, b.p.
29–31°/5 mm. Anal. Calcd. for C
4H
6N
2O
2: N, 24.55. Found: N, 24.76. Heart-cut material has a refractive index of
nD25 1.4616.
3 Principal loss is due to elimination of
nitrogen with formation of high-boiling esters. Both the crude and the distilled products appear to function equally well as synthetic intermediates.
Distillation, even under reduced pressure, is dangerous, for the substance is explosive.8.
The procedure has proved satisfactory for the preparation of the
methyl, butyl, n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and decyl esters of
diazoacetic acid.
4The methyl ester should be handled with particular caution since heat causes it to detonate with extreme violence.
3. Discussion
Ethyl diazoacetate has been prepared from
sodium nitrite and
ethyl glycinate hydrochloride in the presence of
diethyl ether.
5 The present procedure utilizes the unique ability of
methylene chloride solvent to protect the diazoacetic ester from decomposition by aqueous mineral acid.
4 Hammond claims that the use of halogenated hydrocarbons, such as
carbon tetrachloride, leads to a
95% yield of
ethyl diazoacetate.
6
This preparation is referenced from:
Appendix
Chemical Abstracts Nomenclature (Collective Index Number);
(Registry Number)
methyl, butyl, n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and decyl esters
sulfuric acid (7664-93-9)
diethyl ether (60-29-7)
sodium bicarbonate (144-55-8)
sodium sulfate (7757-82-6)
carbon tetrachloride (56-23-5)
nitrogen (7727-37-9)
sodium nitrite (7632-00-0)
methylene chloride (75-09-2)
ethyl diazoacetate,
Acetic acid, diazo-, ethyl ester (623-73-4)
ethyl glycinate hydrochloride (623-33-6)
methylene chloride dihydrate
diazoacetate,
diazoacetic acid
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