methyl 2-(oxiran-2-yl)acetate

Conditions: temp:70.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: 12 g 2-(1-methylethyl)-4-imidazolidinone hydrochloride ((5); R4 =H, R5 =isopropyl) (0.073 moles) are shaken with 20 ml water and treated with 5 g potassium carbonate (0.036 moles). 8.5 g methyl 3,4-epoxybutanoate (0.073 moles) and 12 ml acetone are added. The mixture is stirred for 45 h at 70° C. After evaporating, the residue is chromatographed on silica, eluting with 8:2 ethyl acetate/methanol. The main fractions are combined and evaporated. 2.5 g of methyl 2-(1-methylethyl)-4-oxoimidazolidine-β-hydroxybutanoate, m.p. 109°-122° C., are obtained as a white powder (14.4%). 2.0 g of this compound (0.0082 mole) are heated to boiling for 15 h with 8.8 ml DMF and 2.2 ml water. After evaporation in vacuo, the residue is taken up with methanol, and filtered. 0.74 g oxiracetam is obtained as a white crystalline powder, m.p. 167°-70° C. (57.4%). After evaporating the residue is chromatographed on silica eluting with 8:2 ethyl acetate/methanol evaporated