2,4-dimethylhexanoic acid

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

Procedure: The product of part (i) above (385 mg) in methanol (10 ml) was treated dropwise with thionyl chloride 0.4 ml, 5.5 mmol) at 0° C. and then the solution was stood at room temperature overnight. The excess methanol was removed by distillation at atmospheric pressure, and the residue was distilled to give the title compound (216 mg), [α]19 +33° (liquid, 1=0.1 dm, d22 =0.871), lit1 [α]23 +D D 32.2° (liquid 1=0.2 dm), υmax (CHBr3) 1725 cm-1 (ester), δ(CDCl3) 3.67 (s, 3H, CO2CH3), 2.57 (m, 1H, CH2CHCH2), 1.33 and 1.13 (m, 1H each, CH2CH3), 1.16 (d, J7 Hz, 3H, C--2H3), 0.89 (d, J7 Hz, 3H, C--4CH3), 0.87 (t, J7 Hz, 3H, CH2CH3) lit2 (NMR spectrum). The excess methanol was removed by distillation at atmospheric pressure the residue was distilled