Synthesis
A solution of isobutyryl chloride (5.25 g, 0.0492 mol) in anhydrous chloroform (10 ml) was added to a mixture of 1-morpholinocyclohexene (7.9 g, 0.0472 mol) and triethylamine (5.16 g, 0.606 mol) in chloroform (35 ml) at room temperature for more than 30 minutes. The resulting slurry was stirred overnight at room temperature, 20% HCl aqueous solution (25 ml) was added, and the mixture was heated under reflux for 5 hours. The solution was cooled and the aqueous layer was removed, and the pH was checked to ensure it remained acidic.
The organic layer was washed with saturated NaHCO3 (2×20 ml) and brine (20 ml), dried with magnesium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness to give crude 2-Isobutyrylcyclohexanone, orange oil, yield (6.791 g).
