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

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirring solution of copper (I) cyanide (1.2 eq) in dimethylformamide (2.1 M) at room temperature was added slowly a solution of 2a in dimethylformamide (8.7 M). The reaction was heated to reflux overnight then cooled to room temperature. A solution of iron (III) chloride (1.2 eq) in H2O (0.3 M) was added slowly to the vigorously stirred solution. The resulting solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×). The organic phases were combined then washed with brine (1×), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered, concentrated in vacuo and purified by flash chromatography (15% ethyl acetate/hexanes) to afford the product as a clear oil. (70%) 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 6.09 (m, 1H), 5.98 (m, 1H), 5.79 (m, 2H), 2.29 (s, 2H), 2.11 (s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence