Diethyl oxalate
Diethyl oxalate is an organic compound with the formula. It is the diethyl ester of oxalic acid. Diethyl oxalate is a colorless liquid. It is very similar to dimethyl oxalate but is a liquid at room temperature and has lower solubility in water. Both compounds are reagents in the synthesis of more complex compounds.
Production
Diethyl oxalate can be obtained by esterification of oxalic acid with ethanol using sulfuric acid as a catalyst. A procedure for the closely related dimethyl oxalate is available:Reactions
Diethyl oxalate participates in many condensation reactions, usually to produce esters.Diethyl oxalate is often used to prepare heterocycles. It is for example a precursor to 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene. With urea, it condenses to give parabanic acid.