Benzenepropanenitrile

To a stirred solution of 3-phenylpropanamide (50 mg, 0.34 mmol) in acetonitrile (0.8 mL) at room temperature were successively added formic acid (0.2 mL) and paraformaldehyde (50 mg, 1.67 mmol). The reaction mixture was then refluxed for 12 h, and the solution obtained was cooled to room temperature. Work-up A: The crude mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue was subjected to flash chromatography on silica gel (230–240 mesh) eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (7:3) to yield 3-phenylpropanonitrile (37 mg, 85%). Work-up B: The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (10 mL) and washed successively with saturated sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (5 mL) and water (5 mL). The combined aqueous layers were extracted with ethyl acetate (2 × 10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated. The crude 3-phenylpropanonitrile was purified as described above (Work-up A).