Hydrochloric Acid → 3-(2-Fluorophenyl)-3-oxopropanenitrile

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Reaction Steps

To a flask charged with KOtBu (4 g, 36 mmol) and ether (100 mL, dry) was added dropwise a mixture of 2-fluorobenzonitrile (2.1 g, 17.5 mmol) and MeCN (0.738 g, 18 mmol) at 0° C. After addition the mixture was stirred at RT. for 2 days. Water was added and the reaction and extracted with ether (3×100 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine and dried (Na2SO4). The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to afford a yellow oil, which was dissolved in CH2Cl2 and the solution was acidified with 3M HCl. After stirring the solution at RT for 2 hours, the solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3×200 mL). The organic layers were combined, washed with brine and dried (Na2SO4). After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give 3-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-3-oxo-propionitrile (2 g, 70% yield) as a yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence