Cyanamide → Methyl N-cyanobutanimidate

Participants

Reaction Steps

The methyl butyrimidate salt from Example 1 (322 g, 2.34 mol) was dissolved in a 50% aqueous solution of cyanamide (236 g, 2.81 mol) and cooled in an ice-bath. Dibasic sodium phosphate (164 g, 1.15 mol) was added to the reaction mixture in portions over a period of 1 hour. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and the liquid decanted from the reaction mixture. The remaining solid was diluted with water (2 L) and extracted with ether (3×600 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue distilled under high vacuum to afford 258 g of methyl N-cyanobutyrimidate. MS (DEI) 127 (M+1).

Provenance & Evidence