Methanol → 2-Methoxyisonicotinonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium (20.8 g) was dissolved in methanol (285 ml), a solution of 2-chloro-4-cyanopyridine (115.53 g) in methanoldioxan (1:1, 850 ml) was added and the mixture was boiled under reflux for 21/2 hours and was allowed to cool. The mixture was filtered and the volume of the filtrate was reduced by evaporation in 200 ml and water (400 ml) was added. The solid which precipitated out was filtered off to give 2-methoxy-4-cyanopyridine (57.2 g, 51%), m.p. 93-95.5°.

Provenance & Evidence