The original Knorr synthesis employed two equivalents of ethyl acetoacetate, one of which was converted to ethyl 2-oximinoacetoacetate by dissolving it in glacial acetic acid, and slowly adding one equivalent of saturated aqueous sodium nitrite, under external cooling. Zinc dust was then stirred in, reducing the oxime group to the amine. This reduction consumes two equivalents of zinc and four equivalents of acetic acid.