Definition of Malonic Ester Synthesis

Malonic ester synthesis is the type of chemical reaction in which either diethyl malonate or any other malonate ester is alkylated. The alkylation takes place at the α- carbon. This carbon can be deprotonated by a strong base and this carbanion formed then undergoes nucleophilic substitution on the alkyl halide to form an alkylated compound.

This alkylation process leads to the conversion of an ester of malonic acid into carbonyl groups which are then converted into acetic acid. The yield of such kind of reaction is notably low as the alkylation step produces unwanted dialkylated structures and in this way, the separation of products becomes difficult.