Water → 2-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

20 cm3 of 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution are added to a mixture of 7.8 g (0.05 mol) of 3-indolylacetonitrile, 14.2 g (0.1 mol) of methyl iodide and 0.83 g of a solution of Triton B in methanol at a rate such that the temperature of the reaction mixture does not exceed 35° C. (approximately 1 h 30 min), and the reaction mixture is then stirred for 3 hours at room temperature; thereafter, 100 cm3, of water are added while cooling and the mixture is extracted with diethyl ether, the ether extract is thereafter washed with water to neutrality, dried over sodium sulphate and then filtered, the ether is evaporated off and the residue is crystallised in a sufficient quantity of pentane; the solid thereby obtained is drained and then dried.

Provenance & Evidence