Base mediated dimerization of 2-tetradecynoic acid

Abstract

Under the influence of the very strong base, the sodium salt of 1,2-diaminoethane in 1,2-diaminoethane, 2-tetradecynoic acid is converted to 3-tetradecynoic acid (35%) and a novel dimer 3. Compound 3 ((Z)-2-(1-dodecynyl)-3-undecyl-pent-2-en-1,5-dioic diacid) is isolated as the monomethyl ester 1 after treatment of the crude product with methanolic HCl. The structures of 1 and 3 are deduced from an X-ray crystallographic analysis of the dimethyl ester 2 obtained by reaction of 1 with diazomethane. The dimer 3 is thought to arise from Michael addition of the dianion 4 of 3-tetradecynoic acid with the sodium salt of 2-tetradecynoic acid.