Organic Syntheses, CV 2, 519
Submitted by R. M. Herbst and D. Shemin.
Checked by Reynold C. Fuson and E. A. Cleveland.
1. Procedure
Ten grams (0.05 mole) of α-acetaminocinnamic acid (p. 1) and
200 cc. of 1 N hydrochloric acid (Note
1) are placed in a
500-cc. flask fitted to an upright condenser with a ground-glass joint. Hydrolysis is completed by boiling for three hours. A few droplets of pale green oil may separate from the boiling solution; these are removed by filtration. The crystals of
phenylpyruvic acid which separate from the filtrate on cooling (Note
2) are transferred to a
Büchner funnel and washed with a little ice-cold water. The combined filtrate and washings are extracted with four
50-cc. portions of ether. The solvent is removed from the
ether solution by evaporation at room temperature, finally in a
vacuum desiccator (Note
3). The residue is combined with the first crop of crystals and dried in a vacuum desiccator over
calcium chloride and potassium hydroxide. The yield is
7.2–7.7 g. (
88–94 per cent of the theoretical amount), and the product melts at
150–154° (Note
4) and (Note
5).
2. Notes
1. Larger quantities of
phenlypyruvic acid may be prepared by increasing the amounts of reactants proportionately. However, this is advisable only when the product is to be used immediately since
phenylpyruvic acid begins to decompose after standing only a few days.
2. The amount of
phenylpyruvic acid which separates from the filtrate is increased if the solution is allowed to stand in the refrigerator several days before filtration. No decomposition was noted when the product was kept suspended in cold, dilute acid.
3. The evaporation may be carried out conveniently at room temperature by passing a stream of dry air or inert gas over the surface of the solution under a
glass bell.
4. The melting point varies considerably with the rate of heating.
3. Discussion
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