Diethyl oxalate has the general properties of esters. It absorbs moisture in the air and decomposes slowly. It reacts with ammonia to form amide compounds and condenses with acetone to ethyl pyruvate. It is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is an intermediate of azathioprine, peripheral sulfanilamide, carboxyphenyllipase penicillin, ethoxybenzylpenicillin, chloroquine lactate, thiabendazole, sulfamethoxazole and other drugs. It can be used as an intermediate of plastics, dyes and other products, and as a solvent of cellulose and spices.
Diethyl acetate is often used as the substrate of nucleophilic reagent α,γ- Dicarbonyl esters, ketone compounds, synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, etc. synthesis α,γ- Dicarbonyl esters can be formed by nucleophilic substitution reaction between ketones and diethyl oxalate under alkaline conditions α,γ- Dicarbonyl ester (formula 1). The dicarbonyl ester often exists in enol structure and can be used to synthesize heterocyclic compounds (formula 2)
