Methyl iodide → 4-(Methoxymethyl)benzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-(Hydroxymethyl)benzonitrile (6.0 g, 45.09 mmol) was dissolved in THF (60 mL), cooled to −5° C. to −10° C. and treated with sodium hydride (2.16 g, 90.19 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes then treated with methyl iodide (9.6 g, 67.65 mmol) at RT for 2 hours. After completion of the reaction (TLC; ethyl acetate/Hexane, 5:5), the mixture was poured into water (50 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×25 mL). The separated organic layers were combined, dried over Na2SO4 and concentrated in vacuo. The crude compound was purified by gradient flash chromatography, eluting with 5% ethyl acetate in hexane to afford 4-(methoxymethyl)benzonitrile (6.7 g, 90%).

Provenance & Evidence