Benzonitrile → 2-Amino-2-phenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

20 millimoles (2.06 g) of benzonitrile are dissolved in 20 ml of anhydrous toluene, at 0° C., under an argon atmosphere. 30 millimoles of a toluenic solution 1.5 M of diisobutylaluminum hydride (20 ml) are added, dropwise, at this temperature. The temperature is maintained at 0° C. for 1 hour, then the reaction mixture is added with 50 ml of a normal solution of sodium cyanide in dimethylformamide. The mixture is maintained at room temperature for 3 hours while stirring, then hydrolyzed with 20 ml of methanol, and with pasty sodium sulfate. After purification of the so obtained α-aminonitrile by an acid-base extraction, there are obtained 0.350 g of 2-amino-2-phenyl acetonitrile, with a yield of 29%.

Provenance & Evidence