Methanethiol → Propanedinitrile, [(methylthio)[(phenylmethyl)amino]methylene]-

Participants

Reaction Steps

43.6 ml (400 mmol) of benzylamine are added to a suspension of 68.4 g (400 mmol) of 3,3-bis(methylsulfanyl)-2-cyano-acrylonitrile (Maybridge) in 400 ml of ethyl acetate. The clear solution is slowly heated to 70° C. (→evolution of MeSH!), stirred at that temperature for 1.5 hours, cooled to RT and concentrated by evaporation, yielding crystalline 3-benzylamino-3-methylsulfanyl-2-cyano-acrylonitrile; 1H-NMR: (CD3OD) 7.36 (m, 5H), 4.77 (s, 2H), 2.59 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence