A solution of 1.20 g of the 4-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexanecarbonitrile obtained in 5 ml of pyridine was treated portionwise at room temperature and under argon gasification with 2.46 g of p-tosyl chloride. After stirring at room temperature for 3.5 hours (formation of a white precipitate), the mixture, cooled to 0° C., was treated with about 2 ml of water, cautiously made acid with about 7 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid and extracted three times with 30 ml of diethyl ether each time. The organic phases were washed with 50 ml of water and 50 ml of saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulphate and concentrated, 2.31 g of semi-crystalline oil remaining behind. Low-pressure chromatography (0.5 bar) on 480 g of silica gel using 30% ethyl acetate/petroleum ether as the eluant gave 1.06 g (42%) of trans-4-(tosyloxymethyl)cyclohexanecarbonitrile as a colourless cyrstallizing oil (m.p. 84°-85° C.) and 1.03 g (41%) of cis-4-(tosyloxymethyl)cyclohexanecarbonitrile as a colourless viscous oil. Rf-values (30% ethyl acetate/petroleum ether): trans product 0.25, cis product 0.20.
