dimethyl 2-(methoxymethyl)butanedioate

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

Procedure: 200 g of dimethyl itaconate are dissolved, together with 5.9 g of sodium methoxide, in 650 ml of methanol and the solution is left to stand for four days. The solution is then acidified with acetic acid and fractionally distilled. 240 g (83.4% of the theoretical yield) of dimethyl 2-methoxymethylsuccinate are obtained, at a boiling range of from 109° to 112° C. After the ester has been hydrolyzed with 2N HCl, the free acid is obtained in a yield of 80.3% of the theoretical yield. the solution is left fractionally distilled