Benzyl Bromide → Ethyl 2-cyano-3-phenylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Cyanoacetic acid ethyl ester was alkylated with benzyl bromide in the presence of sodium ethylate in ethanol to give benzyl-cyanoacetic acid ethyl ester [MS: 203 (M)+ ] which was then subsequently hydrolyzed with 1N sodium hydroxide solution in a 9:1 mixture of methanol and water to give the corresponding acid. Recrystallization of the crude product from methylene chloride/hexane yielded benzyl-cyanoacetic acid as crystals of melting point 97°.

Provenance & Evidence