malonic ester synthesis
{{short description|Type of chemical reaction}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Reactionbox
| Name = Malonic ester synthesis
| Type = Coupling reaction
| Section3 = {{Reactionbox Identifiers
| OrganicChemistryNamed = malonic-ester-synthesis
| RSC_ontology_id = 0000107
}}
|Reaction={{Reactionbox Reaction
| Reactant1 = Malonic acid esters
| Reactant2 = R-X
| Reagent1= (−O-R & H3O+)
| Product1 = Substituted Acetic Acid
| Sideproduct1 = CO2
| Sideproduct2 = R-OH
}}|Section1={{Reactionbox Conditions
| Reference =
| Solvent =
| Catalyst =
}}}}
The malonic ester synthesis is a chemical reaction where diethyl malonate or another ester of malonic acid is alkylated at the carbon alpha (directly adjacent) to both carbonyl groups, and then converted to a substituted acetic acid.{{cite book|last=House|first=Herbert O.|title=Modern Synthetic Reactions|publisher=W. A. Benjamin|year=1972|location=Menlo Park, CA.|isbn=0-8053-4501-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/modernsyntheticr0000hous}}
File:Malonic_ester_synthesis_equation_formula.svg{{Br}}
A major drawback of malonic ester synthesis is that the alkylation stage can also produce dialkylated structures. This makes separation of products difficult and yields lower.[http://pharmaxchange.info/press/2011/02/malonic-ester-synthesis-alkylation-of-enolates/ Malonic Ester Synthesis – Alkylation of Enolates]
Mechanism
The carbons alpha to carbonyl groups can be deprotonated by a strong base. The carbanion formed can undergo nucleophilic substitution on the alkyl halide, to give the alkylated compound. On heating, the di-ester undergoes thermal decarboxylation, yielding an acetic acid substituted by the appropriate R group.{{cite web | publisher = Organic Chemistry Portal | url = https://www.organic-chemistry.org/namedreactions/malonic-ester-synthesis.shtm | title = Malonic Ester Synthesis | accessdate = 2007-10-26}} Thus, the malonic ester can be thought of being equivalent to the −CH2COOH synthon.
The esters chosen are usually the same as the base used, i.e. ethyl esters with sodium ethoxide. This is to prevent scrambling by transesterification.
Variations
=Dialkylation=
The ester may be dialkylated if deprotonation and alkylation are repeated before the addition of aqueous acid.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
=Cycloalkylcarboxylic acid synthesis=
Intramolecular malonic ester synthesis occurs when reacted with a dihalide.Smith, Janice Gorzynski. Organic Chemistry: Second Ed. 2008. pp. 905–906[http://pharmaxchange.info/press/2011/02/using-the-non-selective-nature-of-acetoacetic-ester-synthesis-and-malonic-ester-synthesis-to-produce-cyclic-compounds/ Using the non-selective nature of malonic ester synthesis to produce cyclic compounds] This reaction is also called the Perkin alicyclic synthesis (see: alicyclic compound) after investigator William Henry Perkin, Jr.Ueber die Einwirkung von Trimethylenbromid auf Acetessigäther, Benzoylessigäther und Malonsäureäther W. H. Perkin Jun. Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft Volume 16 Issue 2, Pages 1787–97 1883 {{doi|10.1002/cber.18830160259}}
Application
In the manufacture of medicines, malonic ester is used for the synthesis of barbiturates, as well as sedatives and anticonvulsants.
Used in organic synthesis.