Ethyl Acetate → Methyl 2-(5-cyano-3-pyridyloxy)butyrate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of methyl 2-(5-bromo-3-pyridyloxy)butyrate (1.37 g) and copper (1) cyanide (0.67 g) in dry N-methylpyrollidin-2-one (5 ml) was stirred at 150° C. under an atmosphere of nitrogen for 3.25 hours then cooled to ambient temperature and stored for 18 hours. The mixture was diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (four times). The extracts were combined, washed with water (three times), dried over magnesium sulphate and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a liquid which was fractionated by chromatography (silica; ethyl acetate) to give the required product, 0.29 g, as an orange oil.

Provenance & Evidence