Ethyl Acetate → 4-(Difluoromethoxy)benzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-Cyanophenol (0.50 g, 4.2 mmol, Aldrich), sodium chlorodifluoroacetate (0.77 g, 5 mmol, Alfa Products), and sodium hydroxide (0.20 g, 5 mmol) were combined in dry DMF (2 mL) under an atmosphere of argon. After stirring at 125°-130° C. for 5 h, the mixture was cooled to RT, ethyl acetate (50 mL) was added and the organic layer was washed twice with brine. The organic extract was dried (MgSO4), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica gel, 25% ethyl acetate/hexanes) to provide a white solid. The solid was sublimed (1 mm Hg, 23° C.) to provide the title compound as colorless crystals (0.29 g, 41%). mp 33°-35° C.

Provenance & Evidence