Water → 2-Bromobenzyl cyanide

Participants

Reaction Steps

25 g (100 mmol) of 2-bromobenzyl bromide is mixed in 100 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide and 64 ml of water with 9.75 g (150 mmol) of potassium cyanide and stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture is poured into ice water. After 3× extraction with methyl-tert butyl ether, the combined organic extracts are washed with brine, dried, and the solvent is spun off. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel (mobile solvent ethyl acetate/hexane). 18.9 g (96.4%) of the desired compound is obtained.

Provenance & Evidence