Diethyl Ether → 2-(2-Methoxy-5-cyanophenyl)-2-methyl-1-propanal

Participants

Reaction Steps

2-(2-Methoxy-5-bromophenyl)-2-methyl-1-propanal (9.5 g), prepared as in Example 5(d), cuprous cyanide (4.0 g) and dimethylformamide (20 ml) were heated under reflux with stirring for 3 hours. A solution of ferric chloride (7.3 g) in water (25 ml) and hydrochloric acid (3.5 ml conc) was added to the cooled reaction mixture which was then heated at 60°-70° C. for 5 minutes. Isolation of the product through diethyl ether yielded, after recrystallisation from ethanol, 3 g of pure product, mp 115°-117° C.

Provenance & Evidence