(ethyl a, y-dicarbethoxy-a-glutac~ nate),~ which was ethylated directly to give ethyl a, y- dicarbethoxy-aethylgl~ taconate.~ Treatment of the latter compound with 1 molar equiv of sodium ethoxide was reported to yield triester 3a in 95% yield. 4 However, the decarbethoxylat> ion reaction was accompanied, under a variety of reaction conditions, by the formation of diethyl ethylmalonate. In our hands, this competing mode of reaction ...
