Propionic acid reactions

Fig. 31.33 Mechanism of the chiral inversion of / )- or (S)-aryl-2-propionic acids. Reactions 1, 2 and 3 are catalysed by acyl-CoA ligases, acyl-CoA hydrolases and acyl-CoA epimerases, respectively.

Evidence for the mechanism of the conversion step of isobutyric to propionic acid (reaction 3, Fig. 4) was sought by Atchley on the premise that any compound which is an intermediate between isobutyrate and propionate should be completely oxidized by the fatty acid oxidizing system of liver. Using as a guide in the selection of compounds the 8-oxidation theory of fatty acids, he found that 8-hydroxyisobutyrate and methylacrylate were completely oxidized. Methylacrylic acid could be expected to give rise to methylmalonic semialdehyde, which, on structural grounds,... 

In hydrocarboxylation reactions, hydride intermediates are involved, and mechanisms similar to that of Figure 4.6 operate. In the hydrocarboxylation of ethylene to propionic acid (reaction 4.6.1) using a water-soluble Pd catalyst, the involvement of a hydride intermediate has been observed by NMR. 

The ketones are readily prepared, for example, acetophenone from benzene, acetyl chloride (or acetic anhydride) and aluminium chloride by the Friedel and Crafts reaction ethyl benzyl ketones by passing a mixture of phenylacetic acid and propionic acid over thoria at 450° and n-propyl- p-phenylethylketone by circulating a mixture of hydrocinnamic acid and n-butyric acid over thoria (for further details, see under Aromatic Ketones, Sections IV,136, IV,137 and IV,141). 

Anhydrous Acetic Acid. In the manufacture of acetic acid by direct oxidation of a petroleum-based feedstock, solvent extraction has been used to separate acetic acid [64-19-7] from the aqueous reaction Hquor containing significant quantities of formic and propionic acids. Isoamyl acetate [123-92-2] is used as solvent to extract nearly all the acetic acid, and some water, from the aqueous feed (236). The extract is then dehydrated by azeotropic distillation using isoamyl acetate as water entrainer (see DISTILLATION, AZEOTROPIC AND EXTRACTIVE). It is claimed that the extraction step in this process affords substantial savings in plant capital investment and operating cost (see Acetic acid and derivatives). A detailed description of various extraction processes is available (237). 

Protonolysis. Simple trialkylboranes are resistant to protonolysis by alcohols, water, aqueous bases, and mineral acids. In contrast, carboxyUc acids react readily with trialkylboranes, removing the first alkyl group at room temperature and the third one at elevated temperatures. Acetic and propionic acids are most often used. The reaction proceeds with retention of configuration of the alkyl group via a cycHc, six-membered transition state (206). 

Propionic acid made in butane LPO probably comes by a minor variation of reaction 38 that produces methyl radicals and propionaldehyde. It is estimated that up to 18% of the j -butoxy radicals may decompose in this manner (213) this may be high since propionic acid is a minor product. 

Other possible chemical synthesis routes for lactic acid include base-cataly2ed degradation of sugars oxidation of propylene glycol reaction of acetaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and water at elevated temperatures and pressures hydrolysis of chloropropionic acid (prepared by chlorination of propionic acid) nitric acid oxidation of propylene etc. None of these routes has led to a technically and economically viable process (6). 

Diethyl Ketone. Diethyl ketone [96-22-0] (3-pentanone) is isomeric with methyl / -propyl ketone (2-pentanone), which has similar solvent and physical properties. Diethyl ketone is produced by the decarboxylation of propionic acid over Mn02—alumina (165), Zr02 (166), or Zr02 or Th02 on Ti02 (167,168). Diethyl ketone can also be produced by the hydrocarbonylation of ethylene (169—171). It is used as a solvent and a reaction intermediate. 

Propiophenone. Propiophenone [93-55-0] (ethyl phenyl ketone) is a colorless Hquid with a flowery odor. It can be prepared by the Friedel-Crafts reaction of benzene and propionyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride (346), or by the catalytic reaction of benzoic acid and propionic acid in the presence of water (347). Propiophenone is commercially available (348), and is sold in Japan at 2700 Y/kg (349). It is used in the production of ephedrine, as a fragrance enhancer, and as a polymerization sensitizer. 

Fenoprofen, 2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)propionic acid, is made into its monohydroxyalurninum or dihydroxyalurninum salt by reaction of the sodium salt of the acid with aluminum nitrate or chloride under pH control (90,91). The aluminum salt, which is hydroly2ed in the stomach, is more palatable for arthritis treatment (92,93). 

The anti-inflammatory agent Oxapro2in, 2-(4,5-diphenyl-2-oxa2ole)propionic acid mono aluminum and dihydroxyalurninum salts, is made by reaction of the sodium salt with aluminum sulfate under controlled conditions (96). Again, the aluminum salts of many carboxylic acid based dmgs are less irritating, ulcerous, and/or toxic, and have a more pleasant taste than their parent acids. 

Reaction of 1-pentanol with propionic acid provides 1-pentyl propionate [624-54-4] a new coatings solvent for automotive refinish and OEM paints, apphances, and for higher-solids systems (37). The esterification of 1-pentanol with formic acid to 1-pentyl formate [638-49-3] is conducted by concomitant removal of by-product water by a2eotropic distillation with diethyl ether (38). 

With Unsaturated Compounds. The reaction of unsaturated organic compounds with carbon monoxide and molecules containing an active hydrogen atom leads to a variety of interesting organic products. The hydroformylation reaction is the most important member of this class of reactions. When the hydroformylation reaction of ethylene takes place in an aqueous medium, diethyl ketone [96-22-0] is obtained as the principal product instead of propionaldehyde [123-38-6] (59). Ethylene, carbon monoxide, and water also yield propionic acid [79-09-4] under mild conditions (448—468 K and 3—7 MPa or 30—70 atm) using cobalt or rhodium catalysts containing bromide or iodide (60,61). 

A colourless, odourless, neutral liquid at room temperature with a high dielectric constant. The amount of water present can be determined directly by Karl Fischer titration GLC and NMR have been used to detect unreacted propionic acid. Commercial material of high quality is available, probably from the condensation of anhydrous methylamine with 50% excess of propionic acid. Rapid heating to 120-140° with stirring favours the reaction by removing water either directly or as the ternary xylene azeotrope. The quality of the distillate improves during the distn. 

Because of the insolubility of cellulose it is not possible to carry out uniform esterification with the lower organic acids (acetic acid, propionic acid etc.) and in those cases where incompletely substituted derivatives are required a two-stage reaction is employed. This involves total esterification in a medium in... 

Chloro-2,2,3-trifluoropropionic acid has been prepared by permanganate oxidation of 3-chloro-2,2,3-trifluoropropanol which is one of the telomerization products of chlorotrifluoroethylene with methanol. The present procedure is a modification of one reported earlier and is undoubtedly the method of choice for making propionic acids containing 2 fluorine atoms, i.e., 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropionic acid, 3,3-dichloro-2,2-difluoropropionic acid, and 3-bromo-2,2,3-trifluoropropionic acid. When preparing 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropionic acid from tetrafluoroethylene, it is desirable to use an additional 50 ml. of acetonitrile and externally applied heat to initiate the reaction. 

Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water Reacts slowly forming weak propionic acid. The reaction is non-violent and non-hazardous Reactivity with Common Materials Slowly forms a corrosive material if wet Stability During Transport Stable Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics Flush with water and rinse with sodium bicarbonate or lime solution Polymerization Not pertinent Inhibitor of Polymerization Not pertinent. 

This reaction provides a wide variety of products since decomposition of the deuterated alkylborane intermediate (164) can be achieved with hydrogen peroxide to yield labeled alcohols (165), with hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid leading to deuterated amines (166), as well as with boiling propionic acid or propionic acid-OD, to form mono- (167) or dideuterio (168) hydrocarbons, respectively. Furthermore, if a monodeuterium label at the sterically more accessible position (170) is sufficient, the use of expensive metal deute-... 

The successful labeling of the elusive 14a-position in cholestane represents a very important application of this reaction.It is known that hydroboration of the double bond in 5of-cholest-14-ene (174) occurs on the a-side. Consequently, by using deuteriodiborane (generated by the reaction of boron trifluoride etherate with lithium aluminum deuteride) and then propionic acid for hydrolysis of the alkylborane intermediate, 14a-d,-5a-cholestane (175) is obtained in 90% isotopic purity. This method also provides a facile route to the C-15 labeled analog (176) when the alkylborane derived from 5a-cholest-14-ene is hydrolyzed with propionic acid-OD. ... 

Deuteration at C-14 by Reaction of a -Steroid with Deuteriodiborane and Propionic Acid... 

Deuteration at C-14 by reaction of a A -steroid with deuteriodiborane and propionic acid, 194... 

The member of this class which has been studied most thoroughly is 2-benzylidene-4-methyl-5(2 )-oxazolone (57). This compound may be prepared by ring closure of either 3-bromo-2-phenylacetamido-propionic acid or A-(a-halophenylacetyl)alanine (56) [Eq. (30)]. These reactions presumably proceed via unstable halogeno-5(4IT)-oxazolones, which rapidly lose hydrogen halide. 

Electrolysis of salts of fatty acids gives free radicals which are capable of reacting with added substrates. For instance, when water-free potassium acetate is electrolyzed in the presence of polymerizing substances (e.g., styrene) methyl groups are incorporated as end groups into the polymer. Goldschmidt et ai. analyzed the products formed in the electrolysis of potassium propionate in propionic acid and showed that they could be accounted for by the following reaction sequence ... 

In 1909, Thiele and Landers reported the synthesis of p- (3-methoxy-isoxazol-5-yl)-propionic acid (77), from the corresponding chloride or bromide (76). In 1961, a similar reaction was reported for 3-chloro-5-arylisoxazoles, enabling the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-... 

Similar results were obtained on reduction of 3,4,5-trimethylisoxa-zole/ Further examples of such a cleavage were found later. Thus, j8-(3-halogenoisoxazol-5-yl) propionic acids (163) on treatment with sodium amalgam give a mixture of S-cyano-y-ketovaleric and succinic acids (163—> 164) The reaction can be interpreted as a result of... 

Propiolactone is subject to attack by enolate ions to give propionic acid derivatives of ketones. It may likewise react with nucleophilic enamines to give carboxyethylation according to the reactions. The morpholide is easily hydrolyzed to the corresponding acid. 

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