Propionylation

Ethyl a-bromopropionate. This preparation illustrates the facile bromination of an acid chloride (propionyl chloride) in the presence of red phosphorus, and the subsequent conversion of the bromoacid chloride into the ethyl ester by direct interaction with ethanol. 

An improved yield is obtained by the following process. Add a mixture of 75 g. (70-5 ml.) of propionyl chloride and 90 g. (103 ml.) of sodium-dried A.R. benzene to a vigorously stirred suspension of 75 g. of finely-powdered anhydrous aluminium chloride in 100 ml, of dry carbon disulphide, Then introduce more of the aluminium chloride (about 15 g.) until no further evolution of hydrogen chloride occurs. The yield of propiophenone, b.p. 123°/25 mm., is about 90 g. 

Propiophenone. Prepare a solution of diphenyl-cadmium in 110 ml. of dry benzene using 4 9 g. of magnesium, 32 4 g. of bromobenzene and 19 5 g. of anhydrous cadmium chloride. Cool the solution to 10°, and add during 3 minutes a solution of 14 -8 g. of propionyl chloride (b.p. 78-79°) in 30 ml. of dry benzene use external coohng with an ice bath to prevent the temperature from rising above 40°. Stir the mixture for 2 hours at 25-35°. Work up the product as detailed above except that 6 per cent, sodium carbonate solution should replace the saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. The yield of propiophenone, b.p. 100-102°/16 mm., is 17 6 g. 

Chiral 2-oxazolidones are useful recyclable auxiliaries for carboxylic acids in highly enantioselective aldol type reactions via the boron enolates derived from N-propionyl-2-oxazolidones (D.A. Evans, 1981). Two reagents exhibiting opposite enantioselectivity ate prepared from (S)-valinol and from (lS,2R)-norephedrine by cyclization with COClj or diethyl carbonate and subsequent lithiation and acylation with propionyl chloride at — 78°C. En-olization with dibutylboryl triflate forms the (Z)-enolates (>99% Z) which react with aldehydes at low temperature. The pure (2S,3R) and (2R,3S) acids or methyl esters are isolated in a 70% yield after mild solvolysis. 

Exceptions formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, isobutyryl, valeryl, isovaleryl, oxalyl, malonyl, succinyl, glutaryl, furoyl, and thenoyl. 

Fatty acids derived from animal and vegetable sources generally contain an even number of carbon atoms siace they are biochemically derived by condensation of two carbon units through acetyl or malonyl coenzyme A. However, odd-numbered and branched fatty acid chains are observed ia small concentrations ia natural triglycerides, particularly mminant animal fats through propionyl and methylmalonyl coenzyme respectively. The glycerol backbone is derived by biospeciftc reduction of dihydroxyacetone. 

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. 

Fig. 2. Semisynthetic derivatives of I6-membered macroHdes rokitamycin (62, R = R " = H, R = butyryl, R" = propionyl) miokamycin (62,...

Propionyl or butyryl of total acyl in esterification bath, %... 

Fig. 5. Composition of cellulose acetate butyrate (propionate) as a function of butyryl (propionyl) content of esterification bath.

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