4-Methylcyclohexanone → 2-(4-Methylcyclohexylidene)heptanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Into a 25 ml. flask, equipped with magnetic stirrer, heating mantle, thermometer, condensor and calcium sulfate drying tube, was charged 1.12 g. of 4-methyl cyclohexanone (0.01 M), 11.1 g. of heptanonitrile, and 0.66 g. of 85% KOH. The mixture was heated to reflux with stirring at about 83° C. for a total of 32 hours. After cooling, 30 ml. of hexane was added and the mixture washed seven times with 30 ml. of H2O, each washing being back-extracted twice with 30 ml. portions of hexane. The combined organic phase and hexane extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent removed by rotary evaporation at about 15 mm. Hg to give 6.3 g. of crude oil. Gas chromatographic analysis (6' × 1/4" stainless steel column packed with 20% SE30 on chromasorb W, programmed at 135° to 220° C., 4°/minute, He flow ~60 ml./minute) showed two product peaks at RF 19.0 and 20.2 minutes, which were 6.9% in ratio to heptanonitrile. An IR spectrum of the product peaks, trapped as a group from the gas chromatograph, showed a nitrile band at 4.5 microns and an olefinic band at 6.25 microns. The product was evaluated by perfumers as having a jasminic nitrile type odor with a strong, nerol oxide note.

Provenance & Evidence