Esters of 2-Dialkylamino-2-propenoic Acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1990-26781

The title compounds (2a-d) representing α,β-didehydroalanine derivatives and reactive equivalents of pyruvic acid, have been obtained by the reaction of methyl or tert-butyl pyruvate with dimethylamine, piperidine or morpholine in the presence of arsenous trichloride.The synthesis of dimethyl 2,4-dioxopentanedioate is given as an example of the versatile reactivity of these compounds.