Acetic Acid → Cyclohexanecarbonitrile, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 29 g. (0.0915 mole) of methyl 5-cyano-5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate (prepared in Example 10) in 600 ml. of acetic acid and 300 ml. of 10% sulfuric acid is stirred mechanically on a steam bath for about 24 hours. The mixture is then allowed to cool and diluted with water. This mixture is extracted thoroughly with benzene. The organic layer is successively washed with water, sodium bicarbonate solution and brine and evaporated to dryness. The solid residue is recrystallized from a mixture of ethyl acetate and cyclohexanone to give 15.96 g. (67.3% yield) of 4-cyano-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclohexanone, having a melting point of 112.5° to 114.5°C.

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