Dimethylformamide → 2'-Cyanomethylspiro[benzofuran-2(3H),4'(2'H)-isoquinoline]

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Reaction Steps

To dry dimethylformamide is added spiro[benzofuran-2(3H),4'(2'H)-isoquinoline] (11.0 g), sodium bicarbonate (8.4 g) and chloroacetonitrile (6.8 g) and the mixture is heated to 70° for four hours. The dimethylformamide is evaporated to give an oil, which is stirred with water (300 ml) for 15 minutes and then extracted with ether/dichloromethane. The organic extract is washed with water (2x), saturated sodium chloride solution and then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After filtering, the solvents are evaporated to an oil which solidifies to the product (10.6 g), 83%), as an off-white solid upon trituration with petroleum ether/ether. For analysis, a sample is recrystallized twice from hexane/acetone to yield platelets.

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