Acrylonitrile → Diethyl (2-cyanoethyl)(3,4-difluorophenyl)propanedioate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Under an argon atmosphere, sodium ethoxide (20% ethanol solution, 1.7 g) was added to a mixture of diethyl (3,4-difluorophenyl)propanedioate (13.8 g) in tert-butylalcohol (50 mL) at room temperature, and the mixture was stirred at 40° C. for 30 min. Acrylonitrile (3.34 mL) was added to the reaction mixture at room temperature, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution and saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (15.2 g).

Provenance & Evidence