Nitromethane → HCID 55250532, compound

A Knoevenagel condensation was carried out by stirring 3-fluoro-2-methyl-benzaldehyde (20.721 g, 150 mmol), nitromethane (48.75 ml, 900 mmol) and ammonium acetate (34.687 g, 450 mmol) in 300 ml of acetic acid at 115° C. for 3.5 h. The mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and the residue was dissolved in 250 ml of EA. The solution was washed with water (250 ml), three times with a 1 N sodium hydroxide solution (125 ml) and with brine (125 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. 24.18 g of the title compound were obtained as a yellow solid.