Patent ID: 7339073

Claim:
A method for obtaining 5-bromo-levulinic acid methyl ester, comprising the steps of: brominating a member selected from the group consisting of levulinic acid, levulinic acid methyl ester and a combination thereof, for producing a bromination mixture containing a 5-bromolevulinic acid methyl ester; dissolving said bromination mixture in an organic solvent or solvent mixture for forming a solution; cooling said solution for crystallizing 5-bromolevulinic acid methyl ester from said solution and obtaining crystalline 5-bromolevulinic acid methyl ester; wherein said cooling step is carried out at a temperature lower than −20° C. and, draining off said solution with any remaining said bromination mixture for isolating said crystallizing 5-bromolevulinic acid methyl ester, thereby obtaining 5-bromolevulinic acid methyl ester.