Bromine → Bromo(4-chlorophenyl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

4-Chlorophenylacetonitrile (303.2 g., 2.0 mole) is heated to 90°C. on a steam bath and 48% hydrobromic acid (5drops) is added. Bromine (336 g., 2.1 mole) is then added dropwise to the stirred melt over a 1-hour period at 90° -95°C. The reaction mixture is heated an additional 15 minutes and then cooled. Benzene (300 ml.) is then added and 100 ml. of the benzene is removed by distillation at 80°C. The solution is cooled, filtered and the benzene removed to afford 435.5 g. of crude product which is extracted with 3 liters of hexane at 50°-55°C. Isopropanol (100 ml.) is added to the hexane solution which is then cooled to 25°C. The product is collected by filtration to afford 235.2 g. (57% yield) of 4-chlorophenyl-α-bromoacetonitrile, m.p. 46°-49°C.

Provenance & Evidence