Dimethyl Sulfoxide → 7-Cyanoheptanoic acid ethyl ester

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Add sodium cyanide (12.5 g, 255 mmol) and tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (10 g, 27.0 mmol) portionwise to a solution of 7-bromoheptanoic acid methyl ester (25 g, 105 mmol) in DMSO (300 mL) at room temperature under nitrogen and heat the mixture at 50° C. for 4 hours. Cool the mixture and dilute with water (200 mL) and extract with diethyl ether (2×200 mL). Dry the combined organic extracts over sodium sulfate and remove the solvent under reduced pressure to provide 7-cyanoheptanoic acid ethyl ester (18.2 g, 94%).

Provenance & Evidence