trans-Methyl crotonate

Trans-Methyl crotonate is obtained by esterification of crotonic acid and methanol. The reaction solution prepared by 800g of crotonic acid, 1L of methanol, 130g of sulfuric acid and 300ml of carbon tetrachloride was heated on a water bath, and carbon tetrachloride was recovered after dehydration and esterification to obtain a crude product of methyl crotonate. Then, the unreacted crotonic acid in the crude product is washed with water, washed with 5% sodium carbonate, and purified by vacuum distillation to obtain the finished product.

CLEAR COLOURLESS LIQUID

Methyl crotonate was used to investigate chemo selectivity in the reaction between methyl crotonate and benzyl amine catalyzed by lipase B from Candida Antarctica using solvent engineering. It was used as starting reagent during the total synthesis of phytotoxins solanapyrones D(1) and E(2).

Tetrahedron Letters, 14, p. 2967, 1973 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(01)96294-X

Methyl crotonate undergoes vinylogous aldol reaction with enolizable aldehydes in the presence of aluminum tris(2,6-di-2-naphthylphenoxide).