Low-Temperature Reactions of α-Bromopropanoyl Chloride with Lithium Derivative of Ethyl Acetate

Abstract

The reaction of 2-bromopropanoyl chloride with lithium ethyl acetate generated in situ by the reaction of equimolar amounts of lithium diisopropylamide with ethyl acetate forms, depending on the conditions (temperature, time, reagent ratio), diethyl 2,2′-(3-methyloxirane-2,2-diyl)diacetate, 2,2-dibromo-N,N-diisopropylpropanamide, and ethyl (5-methyl-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)acetate as minor by-products along with the expected acylation product ethyl 4-bromo-3-oxopentanoate. The reaction with 2 or 5 equiv of lithium ethyl acetate (–78°C → –20°C) gave, together with the mentioned α-bromo ester, ethyl (5-methyl-4-oxo-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-yl)acetate formed as a result of transformations of the adduct of the second LiCH₂CO₂Et molecule and ethyl-4-bromo-3-oxopentanoate. The reaction 2-bromopropanoyl chloride with sodium malonic ester involves acylation of enol form of the primary expected acylation product to afford dimethyl |2-bromo-1-[(2-bromopropanoyl)oxy]propylidene-malonate.