Ethyl 3-bromopropionate

clear colorless to pale yellow liquid

Ethyl 3-bromopropionate was used in the preparation of (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-oxopentanoic acid.

Ethyl 3-bromopropionate is primarily used as an intermediate in organic synthesis. Due to the presence of an active bromine atom in its molecular structure, it exhibits the properties of an alkylating agent in chemical reactions, enabling it to participate in various types of chemical reactions. It is an important electrophilic reagent that can be used to introduce specific functional groups or carbon chains when constructing complex organic molecules.

The amount of 3-bromopropionic acid was fixed at 30 g. Ethanol and 3-bromopropionic acid were added to a 100 mL three-necked round-bottom flask at a molar ratio of 1.5, followed by 60 mL of benzene and 1.2 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The mixture was thoroughly shaken, and a condenser and water separator were connected. The mixture was refluxed at 80 °C for 3.5 h until no more water precipitated. The solvent was evaporated, 20 mL of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution was added, and the mixture was washed with 50 mL of water. The mixture was then redistilled. Ethyl 3-bromopropionate was obtained with a mass fraction of 98.49% and a yield of 94.7%.

[1] Patent: US2009/156593, 2009, A1. Location in patent: Page/Page column 10
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[5] Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, 1921, vol. 172, p. 1269