Blaise Reaction

Abstract

Abstract The reaction between a nitrile and zinc reagent from an α‐bromoester (i.e., the Reformatsky reagent) to give an enamino ester or the further product of a β‐keto ester upon acidic hydrolysis, is generally referred to as Blaise reaction. It is a one‐step synthesis of higher aliphatic β‐keto esters from a stable and accessible starting material. The structure of bromoester has been found to affect the efficiency of this reaction. The α‐cyano ester has also been synthesized by using Reformatsky reagent and cyanogens (CN) 2 , 30–60% of nitrile. The α‐bromo esters in THF in presence of activated zinc dust have been used for refluxing the aliphatic or aromatic nitriles and produce good yield.