Sodium Cyanide → 3,4-Difluorobenzoylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 13.2 g. (0.056 mole) of 3,4-difluorophenacyl bromide was dissolved in 100 ml. of ethanol and cooled to 5° C. in ice. A solution of 7.6 g. (0.16 mole) of sodium cyanide in 40 ml. of water was added dropwise over 0.5 hr. and the reaction is stirred for an additional one hour. At that time, the mixture was diluted with 100 ml. of water and filtered through Celite®. Acidification of the filtrate gave a cloudy mixture which was extracted with methylene chloride. The organic phase was dried, filtered through Magnesol® and evaporated. Recrystallization of the residue from carbon tetrachloride provides 5.3 g. (52%) of colorless solid, m.p. 74°-75° C. Similarly prepared were 2,4-dichlorobenzoylacetonitrile, o-ethylbenzoylacetonitrile, p-isopropylbenzoylacetonitrile, m-isobutylbenzoylacetonitrile, 3,4-dimethylbenzoylacetonitrile, m-ethoxybenzoylacetonitrile, p-isopropoxybenzoylacetonitrile, 3,4-diethoxybenzoylacetonitrile, and 2,5-difluorobenzoylacetonitrile.

Provenance & Evidence