Hydrogen Cyanide → 5-Methyl-5-phenethyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A suspension of 144.1 g (1.5 Mol) ammonium carbonate in 800 ml methanol/water 1:1 mixture is prepared in a 2 liter three-necked flask. At a temperature of 20° C. 43.2 ml (1.1 Mol) hydrocyanic acid are added within 1 minute. 152.8 g (1.0 Mol) 4-phenyl-2-butanol (benzyl acetone) are then added dropwise, leading to a slight exothermic reaction (temperature increase to ca. 30° C.). The white emulsion is maintained at 40° C. for 1 hour and then for 2.5 hours at 60° C. The precipitate is suction filtered, washed twice with 50 ml methanol/H2O 1:1 and dried in a vacuum at 60° C.

Provenance & Evidence