Pyridine → 2-(3-Acetylphenyl)propanenitrile

Next, to a solution of Meldrum's acid (408 mg, 2.84 mmol) in dichloromethane (15 mL) at 0° C. was added pyridine (0.457 mL, 5.68 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred for 15 min and then 3-(1-cyanoethyl)benzoyl chloride (482.5 mg, 2.5 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then for 1 h at room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with 1 N HCl. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product was dissolved in AcOH—H2O (1:2) and heated at reflux for 4 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×30 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with NaHCO3 solution and brine, then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography using hexane-ethyl acetate (9:1) as eluent to give 13 (138 mg, 28%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 1.68 (d, J=7.2 Hz 3H), 2.63 (s, 3H), 3.99 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.60 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.53 (d, J=2.8 Hz, 1H), 7.60 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (t, J=2 Hz, 1H), 7.94 (s, 1H).