Sodium Cyanide → 2-Bromobenzyl cyanide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of 220.0 g of sodium cyanide in 265 ml of water and 380 ml of absolute ethanol, is added, while stirring, a solution of 911.0 g of o-bromobenzyl bromide in 911 ml of ethanol. The reaction proceeds exothermally, but is eventually heated under reflux for about 0.5 hour, then cooled in an ice-bath, and filtered. The solid is washed with ether, the filtrate is concentrated, the residue is suspended in 300 ml of water and extracted with three 500 ml portions of ether. The ether extracts are washed, dried, and the solvent is removed. The residue is distilled to give 730 g of the named product, bp 141°-142° (12mm).

Provenance & Evidence