Imidazole → 2-(1H-Imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of imidazole (1.0 g, 14.6 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) is added sodium hydride (60% wt. in mineral oil, 0.887 g, 22.17 mmol) at room temperature. The mixture is stirred for 30 min, whereupon 2-cyanobenzyl bromide (2.87 g, 14.6 mmol) is added. After an additional 30 min, water is added and the mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate. The aqueous phase is poured into aqueous sodium bicarbonate and extracted with dichloromethane. The combined organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give a residue which is purified by silica gel chromatography (dichloromethane-methanol, 19:1) to give 2-imidazol-1-ylmethyl-benzonitrile; MS (ESI) m/z 184.3 (M+H).

Provenance & Evidence