Methanol → 2-Cyano-4'-methylbiphenyl

Participants

Reaction Steps

2M Sodium carbonate solution (200 ml) was added to a stirred mixture of 4-methylphenylboronic acid (30 g), 2-bromobenzonitrile (36.4 g), palladium (II) chloride (0.4 g), methanol (200 ml) and toluene (200 ml) at 5° C. The temperature rose to approximately 20° C. and a solid precipitated. The reaction mixture was then heated at reflux for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and water (100 ml) was added, followed by diatomaceous earth (5 g). The mixture was stirred for 15 minutes, then filtered through diatomaceous earth. The organic phase of the filtrate was separated and washed with 2M sodium carbonate solution and then water. The organic phase was then filtered and the filtrate evaporated. The resultant solid was recrystallised from petroleum ether (b.p. 110°-120° C.) to give 4'-methylbiphenyl-2-carbonitrile (33 g) which was used without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence