Sodium Cyanide → 2-(2-Bromo-5-nitrophenyl)acetonitrile

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Reaction Steps

A solution of 1-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)-4-nitrobenzene (54 g, 183 mmol) in toluene (200 mL) and water (100 mL) was heated to 60° C., then NaCN (27.2 g, 555 mmol) was added, followed by stirring at reflux overnight. Water was added to the mixture, the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate 3 times. The combined organic phase was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate. The crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=100:1 to 5:1) to give 2-(2-bromo-5-nitrophenyl)acetonitrile (15 g, yield 34%).

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