An Efficient Approach to β-Oxoadipate Derivatives and γ-Oxo Acids by the Reformatsky Reaction of Ethyl α-Bromoalkanoates with Succinic Anhydride

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1992-26112

Ethyl 2-bromoalkanoates react with zinc and succinic anhydride in dimethylformamide forming 2-substituted 1-ethyl hydrogen 3-oxoadipates (hexanedioates) isolable in a yield of 56 - 78percent.When subjected to decarboxylative saponification, they afford 4-oxoalkanoic acids in overall yields of 50 - 72percent