Ethyl methylcyanoacetate

Simple saturated nitriles are seldom prepared by the decarboxylation of cyano acids derived from the cyanoacetic ester synthesis (cf. method 265). However, difunctional compounds are frequently obtained by this route, as in the preparation of a-methyl-y-phenoxybutyronitrile from /3-phenoxy-ethyl bromide and ethyl methylcyanoacetate (52% over-all). ... 

The reaction of active methine compounds, e.g., ethyl methylcyanoacetate and methylmalononitrile, with vinyltins using palladium catalyst gives 3 -hexene derivatives (Eq. 71) [145]. Participation of two molecules of the methyne compound and two vinyl moieties of the vinyltin in this reaction is obvious, though the actual reaction pathway was not clarified. 

ETHYL (l-ETHYLPROPENYL)-METHYLCYANOACETATE (3-Pentenoic acid, 2-cyano-3-ethyl-2-methyl-, ethyl ester)... 

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