Synthesis 2002(5): 0681-0685
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-23548
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Nitroalkanes and Dimethyl Maleate as Source of 3-Alkyl Succinic Anhydrides and (E)-3-Alkylidene Succinic Anhydrides

Roberto Ballini*a, Giovanna Bosicaa, Dennis Fiorinia, Paolo Righib
a Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche dell’Università, Via S. Agostino 1, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy
Fax: +39(0737)402297; e-Mail: roberto.ballini@unicam.it;
b Dipartimento di Chimica Organica ”A. Mangini" dell’Università, V.le Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Received 18 January 2002
Publication Date:
02 April 2002 (online)

Abstract

Nitroalkanes react with dimethyl maleate giving a tandem Michael addition/elimination of nitrous acid. The obtained (E)-2-alkylidene dimethyl succinates are: (i) reduced to the corresponding 2-alkyl dimethyl succinates which after hydrolysis produce 1,4-dicarboxylic acids that are prone to convert into the corresponding 3-alkyl succinic anhydrides or (ii) hydrolysed to (E)-2-alkylidene-succinic acids that are easily cyclised to (E)-3-alkylidene succinic anhydrides.