2-Methoxyethyl 2-[(3-nitrophenyl)methylene]acetoacetate

Off-White to Pale Yellow Solid

Cilnidipine intermediate.

Low toxicity by ingestion and inhalation. A moderate eye irritant.

200 kg of methoxyethyl acetoacetate and 185.1 kg of 3-nitrobenzaldehyde were suspended in 800 l of isopropanol. Then 5.65 kg of p-anisic acid and 5.05 kg of an ethanol solution of 33% dimethylamine were added and heated at about 35C for about 30 minutes to obtain a solution. The reaction mixture was cooled to 20/25C, then it was cooled with running water for about 12 hours and cooled with brine at about 0C for another 24 hours, then centrifuged and washed with isopropanol. After drying, 327 kg of 3-nitrophenylforkylacetoacetic acid methoxyethyl ester was obtained in about 91% yield.