A New, One Pot Synthesis of Alkylated Methyl Tri- and Tetracarboxylate Derivatives­ by Nitrolkanes.

The reaction of nitroalkanes with trimethyl trans-aconitate in acetonitrile, in the presence of DBU as base, allows the one pot formation of alkylated methyl tri- and tetralkanoate derivatives via base induced nitrous acid elimination. The title compounds can also be obtained, in one flask, starting with the reaction of methyl nitroacetate with dimethyl maleate, followed by the addition, in the same flask of the nitroalkane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]