Toluene → 3-(4-Methylphenyl)pyridine-2-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

Under nitrogen, 13.91 g (76 mmol) of 2-cyano-3-bromopyridine from step 2 and 11.41 g (84 mmol) of 4-tolylboronic acid from step 3 were treated with 2.65 g (2.3 mmol) of tetrakis (triphenylphosphine)palladium zero, 155 mL of toluene, 60 mL of ethanol, and 77 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux and vigorously stirred overnight. The product crystallized from the reaction mixture after several days at ambient temperature. Filtration provided 5.02 g (34%) of 2-cyano-3-(4-tolyl)pyridine as a colorless solid: mp 136°-138° C.; NMR (CDCl3) δ2.44 (s, 3H), 7.34 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 7.47 (d, J=8 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (dd, J=8 and 5 Hz, 1H), 7.85 (dd, J=8 and 2 Hz, 1H), 8.68 (dd, J=5 and 2 Hz, 1H); MS (70 eV) m/e (rel intensity) 194 (100).

Provenance & Evidence