video tutorial Ethylacetopyruvate synthesis from diethyl oxalate and acetone

Name: video tutorial - Ethylacetopyruvate synthesis from diethyl oxalate and acetone
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T09:03:43.810Z
Duration: 9 min 6 s
Description: In this video we'll be synthesizing the compound called ethyl acetopyruvate....Click on the link shown here for our video which demonstrates this.

Goal: synthesize ethyl acetopyruvate by base-promoted coupling of acetone with oxalate esters (ethyl oxalate and diethyl oxalate) using sodium metal to generate a strong base in situ.
Generate sodium ethoxide in situ by reacting sodium metal (3.5 g) with ethyl oxalate under reflux to form the active base.
React the sodium ethoxide with diethyl oxalate by adding the latter slowly through the condenser, forming the sodium salt of the target product with a color change to yellow and eventual precipitation.
Allow the reaction to proceed until stirring is no longer possible (up to ~20 minutes after complete addition), then cool and solidify the product.
Isolate the solid by filtration under vacuum, wash with dry acetone, and dry for 2–3 hours until a pasty solid remains.
Dissolve the solid in 12 mL of 50% sulfuric acid to convert the sodium salt to the acid ketone form, then gradually add water (10 mL portions over ~20 minutes) until dissolution is complete.
Extract the solution with dichloromethane (DCM) in multiple portions (50 mL then 25 mL) and combine the organic layers.
Dry the combined DCM extracts with anhydrous magnesium sulfate and remove the solvent to obtain the crude product.
Purify by vacuum distillation of the DCM solution to give ethyl acetopyruvate as a pale yellow distillate (14 g, 155–175°C under vacuum), approximately 65% yield based on starting ethyl oxalate; potential trace impurities due to decomposition.
Note: product is suitable for subsequent pyridine synthesis; distillation carries risks due to heat sensitivity and uncertain vacuum strength.