2-Chloropyridine → alpha-Phenyl-2-pyridineacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a cold (0° C.) solution of 2-chloropyridine (4.8 mL, 50 mmol) and benzyl cyanide (5.8 ml, 50 mmol) in 120 ml of DMF, was added with potassium t-butoxide (11.2 g, 100 mmol), under N2. The reaction mixture was reacted for 3 hours and then partitioned between EtOAc and H2O. The resulting layers were separated and the EtOAc layer was washed sequentially with NaHCO3 and brine, dried over Na3SO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude material was purified by recrystallization (hexanes/EtOAc).

Provenance & Evidence