2-cyano-3-methylbutanoic acid

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

Procedure: The starting compound, N-(2-cyano-3-methylbutanoyl)urea, is a known compound and can be obtained by, for example, reacting methyl cyanoacetate and acetone, hydrolyzing the resulting methyl 2-cyano-3-methylbutyrate with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, treating said reaction mixture with sulfuric acid to give 2-cyano-3-methylbutyric acid and heating this compound in the presence of urea and acetic anhydride. can be obtained by, for example treating