66899-02-3

130912-54-8

66899-02-3

The general procedure for the synthesis of 4,4-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone from ethyl 3,3-dimethyl-4-nitrobutanoate was as follows: ethyl 3,3-dimethyl-4-nitrobutanoate (22.65 g, 119.8 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (120 ml), followed by the addition of 10% palladium/activated carbon catalyst (250 mg). The reaction mixture was transferred to a hydrogenation unit (Parr Instrument Company), operated under evacuation and the reaction mixture was stirred at 110 °C. The reaction mixture was subjected to five hydrogenation operations with hydrogen (4.4 atmospheres) over a period of 16 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was filtered, the catalyst was washed with methanol, and the solvent was subsequently removed by evaporation to afford the oily product 4,4-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidinone (13.14 g, 97% yield).