dimethyl 3-(cyanomethyl)pentanedioate

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: Under nitrogen atmosphere, 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (212 g) was added to a suspension of LiAlH4 (50.0 g) in THF (1.8 L) at −20° C. After stirring for 30 min., H2O (200 mL) was slowly added to the reaction mixture. The insoluble material was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 5-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-pentanenitrile (131 g). 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 1.38-1.91 (m, 4 H) 1.98-2.36 (m, 1 H) 2.50 (d, J=5.71 Hz, 2 H) 3.51-3.90 (m, 4 H). The insoluble material was removed by filtration the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: Under nitrogen atmosphere, 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (212 g) was added to a suspension of LiAlH4 (50.0 g) in THF (1.8 L) at −20° C. After stirring for 30 min., H2O (200 mL) was slowly added to the reaction mixture. The insoluble material was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 5-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-pentanenitrile (131 g). 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 1.38-1.91 (m, 4 H) 1.98-2.36 (m, 1 H) 2.50 (d, J=5.71 Hz, 2 H) 3.51-3.90 (m, 4 H). The insoluble material was removed by filtration the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a solution of crude 3-cyanomethylene-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (403 g) in methanol (500 mL), 5% Pd—C was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 days. The Pd—C was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give crude 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (212 g). The residue was purified by distillation to obtain 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (bp 130-150° C., 133 Pa) as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 2.46-2.61 (m, 5 H) 2.62-2.78 (m, 4 H) 3.71 (s, 6 H). The Pd—C was removed by filtration the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: Under nitrogen atmosphere, 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (212 g) was added to a suspension of LiAlH4 (50.0 g) in THF (1.8 L) at −20° C. After stirring for 30 min., H2O (200 mL) was slowly added to the reaction mixture. The insoluble material was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 5-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-pentanenitrile (131 g). 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 1.38-1.91 (m, 4 H) 1.98-2.36 (m, 1 H) 2.50 (d, J=5.71 Hz, 2 H) 3.51-3.90 (m, 4 H). The insoluble material was removed by filtration the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: To a solution of crude 3-cyanomethylene-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (403 g) in methanol (500 mL), 5% Pd—C was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 4 days. The Pd—C was removed by filtration and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give crude 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (212 g). The residue was purified by distillation to obtain 3-cyanomethyl-pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (bp 130-150° C., 133 Pa) as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (200 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 2.46-2.61 (m, 5 H) 2.62-2.78 (m, 4 H) 3.71 (s, 6 H). The Pd—C was removed by filtration the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure