Malonic ester synthesis

A major drawback of malonic ester synthesis is that the alkylation stage can also produce dialkylated structures.

On heating, the di-ester undergoes thermal decarboxylation, yielding an acetic acid substituted by the appropriate R group.

The ester may be dialkylated if deprotonation and alkylation are repeated before the addition of aqueous acid.

[citation needed] Intramolecular malonic ester synthesis occurs when reacted with a dihalide.

[4][5] This reaction is also called the Perkin alicyclic synthesis (see: alicyclic compound) after investigator William Henry Perkin, Jr.[6] In the manufacture of medicines, malonic ester is used for the synthesis of barbiturates, as well as sedatives and anticonvulsants.