ACETO ACETIC ESTER I 3 



soluble in alcohol, ether and benzene, and boils at 254° to 256.° When 

 saponified with alcoholic potash, acetic and succinic acids are pro- 

 duced. Barium hydroxid produces /9-aceto-propionic acid CH3 CO 

 CH, CH2 GO, H, a crN'stalline substance which melts at 31° This is 

 probably the same as the levohnic acid of Grote and Tollens (Ann. 

 Chem. 175, 181) The ethyl ester was also produced. 



CONRAD, M, 1877. 



Ann. Chem. 188, 226-22S ; J. Chem. Soc. 34. 137. 



Synthesis of Pyrotartaric Acid from Acetoacetic Ester. 



When sodacetoacetic ester is treated with a-brom-propionic ester, 

 /9-methyl-aceto-succinic ester is formed, thus: — CH3 CO C H Na CO2 

 C, H5 + CH3 C H Br CO2 C, H5 = CH3 



CO ~ CH3 



CH CH 



CO2 C, H, CO2 C3 H5 

 /?- Methyl aceto-succinic e.ster is acted upon by barium hydroxid and 

 the barium salt of pyrotartaric acid is formed. 



ROHRBECK, HERMANN, 1877. 



Ann. Chem. 188, 229-239 ; J. Chem. Soc. 34, 136. 



«=Methyl y3=0xybutyric Acid and «=Methyl Crotonic Acid. 



«-Methyl y^-oxybutyric acid was obtained from methjd-acetoacetic 

 ester by the action of sodium amalgam and when heated this a-methyl 

 /^-oxybutyric acid was changed into a-methjT crotonic acid, CH3 CH : C 

 CH3 CO2 H. The properties and salts of each acid were described. 



WALDSCHMIDT, ERNST, 1877. 



Ann. Chem. 188, 240-248 ; J. Chem. Soc. 34» 136. 

 Reactions of Acetoacetic Ester. 



a-Ethyl ^-ox5^butyric acid and a-ethyl-crotonic acid were produced 

 from acetoacetic ester, the reactions being similar to those of Rohrbeck* 

 which proves that they are general. The salts of these two acids were 

 studied and described. 

 *See pages 7 and 13. 



