Potassium Carbonate → Benzonitrile, 4-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenoxy)-

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Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 5.23 g (0.0300 mole) of 4-fluorophenyl methyl sulfone, 7.15 g (0.0600 mole) of 4-cyanophenol, 8.29 g (0.0600 mole) of anhydrous K2CO3 and 90 ml of sulfolane was heated at 150° C. for 3.5 hrs. The mixture was cooled and poured into a solution of 100 ml of 20% aqueous NaOH and 500 ml of water. Extraction of the basic solution with diethyl ether afforded 2.3 g (28% yield) of product after removal of solvent in vacuo. The product was purified by column chromatography using silica gel as the support and chloroform as the eluent. The purified 4-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenoxy)benzonitrile was found to have a melting point of 127°-128.5° C.

Provenance & Evidence