Formic Acid → 4-Chlorobenzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

4-chlorobenzaldehyde (50 g; 0.36 mol), sodium formate (48.4 g; 0.71 mol), and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (24.7 g; 0.36 mol) were added to 400 ml formic acid (98 wt. %). The reaction mixture was refluxed for 1 hour at 130° C., cooled to room temperature and poured into 1 liter cold water to produce a white precipitate, which was filtered and air-dried to yield 43 g 4-chlorobenzonitrile (m.p.=91°-92° C.). The yield for this step in the reaction sequence was about 88%.

Provenance & Evidence