Methyl iodide → 1-Benzhydryl-3-methylazetidine-3-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 2.6 g (0.025 mol) of diisopropylamine in 80 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran is cooled to -78° C. under nitrogen and 10 ml of a 2M solution of n-BuLi in n-hexane are added to it with great care. Stirring is carried out for 30 minutes and a solution of 6.2 g (0.025 mol) of 1-benzhydrylazetidine-3-carbonitrile obtained in stage a) of PREPARATION I in 30 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added to it. After 1 hour's stirring, a solution of 7.0 g (0.05 mol) of methyl iodide in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran is added dropwise. Stirring is carried out for 1 hour and the reaction mixture is allowed to warm up to ambient temperature. It is left to stand overnight and the basic solution is neutralized by addition of approximately 100 ml of a 20% solution of NH4Cl and a few drops of concentrated HCl The product is extracted with methylene chloride and the organic phase is concentrated to obtain 6.0 g of 1-benzhydryl-3-methyl-3-azetidinecarbonitrile which is crystallized from n-hexane. M.p. 78°-80° C.

Provenance & Evidence