Acetonitrile → 4-Methyl-3-carbonyl valeronitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a 1 L of round bottom flask were added methyl isobutyrate (100 g, 0.98 mol), sodium ethoxide (66.63 g, 0.98 mol), acetonitrile (53.9 g, 0.98 mol) and 300 ml of methanol at room temperature. The resultant mixture was slowly warmed and refluxed. The reaction was kept for 6 hr. The reaction was stopped and cooled to room temperature. The solvent was rotary-evaporated. The product was distilled under reduced pressure (12 mmHg) to collect at 102-104° C. 56.2 g of the pure title compound.

Provenance & Evidence