Acetoacetic ester synthesis of ketones

One of the most valuable methods of preparing ketones makes use of ethyl acetoacetate acetoacetic ester), CH3COCH2COOC2H5, and is called the acetoacetic ester synthesis of ketones. This synthesis closely parallels the malonic ester synthesis of carboxylic acids. 

The esters of nitrous acid are characterised by their high velocities of formation and hydrolysis. They are almost instantaneously decomposed by mineral acids and in the method of preparation given this has been taken into account. The slightest excess of hydrochloric acid must be avoided. Advantage is taken of this property of the alkyl nitrites in all cases where it is desired to liberate nitrous acid in organic solvents (in which metallic nitrites are insoluble). Examples addition of N203 to olefines, preparation of solid diazonium salts (p. 286), production of isonitroso-derivatives from ketones by the action of HN02. This synthesis is often also carried out in the manner of the acetoacetic ester synthesis, with ketone, alkyl nitrite, and sodium ethylate the sodium salt of the isonitrosoketone is formed (cf. in this connexion p. 259) ... 

Fig. 13.26. Acetoacetic ester synthesis of methyl ketones I preparation of an alkylated acetoacetic ester.

The butylated /J-ketoester C of Figure 13.26 is not the final synthetic target of the acetoacetic ester synthesis of methyl ketones. In that context, the /J-ketoester C is converted into the corresponding /J-ketocarhoxylic acid via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis (Figure 13.27 for the mechanism, see Figure 6.22). This /i-ketocarboxylic acid is then heated either in the same pot or after isolation to effect decarboxylation. The /f-ketocarboxylic acid decarboxylates via a cyclic six-membered transition state in which three valence electron pairs are shifted at the same time. The reaction product is an enol, which isomerizes immediately to a ketone (to phenyl methyl ketone in the specific example shown). 

What alkyl bromide should be used in the acetoacetic ester synthesis of each of the following methyl ketones ... 

Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis of Methyl Ketones (Section 23-2)... 

The thermal decarboxylation of p keto acids is the last step in a ketone synthesis known as the acetoacetic ester synthesis The acetoacetic ester synthesis is discussed in Section 21 6... 

Acetoacetic ester synthesis (Section 21 6) A synthetic method for the preparation of ketones in which alkylation of the enolate of ethyl acetoacetate... 

This reaction sequence is called the acetoacetic ester synthesis. It is a standard procedure for the preparation of ketones from alkyl halides, as the conversion of 1-bromobutane to 2-heptanone illustrates. 

Alpha hydrogen atoms of carbonyl compounds are weakly acidic and can be removed by strong bases, such as lithium diisopropylamide (LDA), to yield nucleophilic enolate ions. The most important reaction of enolate ions is their Sn2 alkylation with alkyl halides. The malonic ester synthesis converts an alkyl halide into a carboxylic acid with the addition of two carbon atoms. Similarly, the acetoacetic ester synthesis converts an alkyl halide into a methyl ketone. In addition, many carbonyl compounds, including ketones, esters, and nitriles, can be directly alkylated by treatment with LDA and an alkyl halide. 

Step 3 of Figure 29.12 Oxidation and Decarboxylation (2K,3S)-lsocitrate, a secondary alcohol, is oxidized by NAD+ in step 3 to give the ketone oxalosuccinate, which loses C02 to givea-ketoglutarate. Catalyzed by isocitrate dehydrogenase, the decarboxylation is a typical reaction of a /3-keto acid, just like that in the acetoacetic ester synthesis (Section 22.7). The enzyme requires a divalent cation as cofactor, presumably to polarize the ketone carbonyl group. 

Acetoacetic ester synthesis (Section 22.7) The synthesis of a methyl ketone by alkylation of an alkyl halide, followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation. 

It is obvious that many carboxylic acids of the formulas RCH2COOH and RR CHCOOH can be synthesized by this method (for some other ways of preparing such acids, see 10-106, 10-108, and 10-109). Another important example is the acetoacetic ester synthesis, in which Z is COOEt and Z is COCH3. In this case the product can be decarboxylated with acid or dilute base (12-38) to give a ketone or cleaved with concentrated base (12-41) to give a carboxylic ester and a salt of acetic acid ... 

Among other methods for the preparation of alkylated ketones are (1) the Stork enamine reaction (12-18), (2) the acetoacetic ester synthesis (10-104), (3) alkylation of p-keto sulfones or sulfoxides (10-104), (4) acylation of CH3SOCH2 followed by reductive cleavage (10-119), (5) treatment of a-halo ketones with lithium dialkyl-copper reagents (10-94), and (6) treatment of a-halo ketones with trialkylboranes (10-109). 

Examples of this approach to the synthesis of ketones and carboxylic acids are presented in Scheme 1.4. In these procedures, an ester group is removed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation after the alkylation step. The malonate and acetoacetate carbanions are the synthetic equivalents of the simpler carbanions that lack the additional ester substituent. 

Examples of this approach to the synthesis of ketones and carboxylic acids are presented in Scheme 1.6. In these procedures, an ester group is removed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation after the alkylation step. The malonate and acetoacetate carbanions are the synthetic equivalents of the simpler carbanions lacking the ester substituents. In the preparation of 2-heptanone (entries 1, Schemes 1.5 and 1.6), for example, ethyl acetoacetate functions as the synthetic equivalent of acetone. It is also possible to use the dilithium derivative of acetoacetic acid as the synthetic equivalent of acetone enolate.29 In this case, the hydrolysis step is unnecessary, and decarboxylation can be done directly on the alkylation product. 

Coupling of halo ketones with lithium alkylcopper reagents 0-94 Acetoacetic ester synthesis and similar reactions... 

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