Dimethylformamide → 4-Bromo-3-(hydroxymethyl)benzonitrile

A mixture of 2 (20.0 mmol), (methoxymethyl)triphenylphosphonium chloride (8.49 g, 24.0 mmol), and potassium tert-butoxide (2.83 g, 24.0 mol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (50 mL) was stirred at room temperature for overnight. The reaction was quenched with 6 N HCl, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water (×2) and brine, and dried on anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced. To the residue were added tetrahydrofuran (60 mL) and 6 N HCl, and the mixture was heated at reflux for 8 h. Water was added, and the mixture was extracted with ether. The organic layer was washed with brine and dried on anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to afford 16.6 mmol of 9.