Catechol → 2-(2,3-Dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-2-yl)acetonitrile

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Reaction Steps

The starting material is prepared as follows: To the solution of 1,134 g of bromine in 1,400 ml of ethyl acetate 472 g of allyl cyanide are added dropwise while stirring for 90 minutes at -10°-0°. The resulting solution of 3,4-dibromobutyronitrile is added all at once to the solution prepared from 705 g of catechol and 1,987 g of anhydrous potassium carbonate in 5,000 ml of refluxing ethyl acetate, while stirring at 35° under nitrogen. The mixture is refluxed for 4 hours and stirred overnight at room temperature. It is filtered, the residue washed with 2,000 ml of ethyl acetate, the filtrate evaporated, the residue distilled and the fraction boiling at 138°/1.4-131°/1.1 mm Hg collected, to yield the 1,4-benzodioxan-2-yl-acetonitrile.

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