Methyl 2-(4-bromophenyl)acetate → Methyl (4-cyanophenyl)acetate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

5.1 g (56.7 mmol) of copper(I) cyanide were added to a solution of 10 g (43.7 mmol) of methyl 4-bromophenylacetate in 44 ml of NMP, and, in a microwave oven, the mixture was then heated to 200° C. for 60 min. The reaction mixture was then purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (mobile phase cyclohexane/ethyl acetate 5:1). This gave 4.65 g (61% of theory) of the title compound.

Provenance & Evidence