3-Chlorobenzaldehyde → m-Chlorobenzylidene-p-chlorophenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Method B To a solution of 4-chlorobenzyl cyanide (Aldrich) (4.5 g, 30 mmol) and 3-chloro-benzaldehyde (Aldrich) (4 g, 29 mmol) in methanol (150 mL) was slowly added a methanolic solution (Aldrich, 25 wt. %) of sodium methoxide (10 mL, 44 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated and stirred at 50° C. for 3 h. The mixture became cloudy, and was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The white precipitate was washed with water, cold methanol, and then dried in vacuo to give the first batch of desired product (5.5 g). The filtrate was concentrated, diluted with water, neutralized by aqueous HCl solution to “pH” 7, then extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography (EtOAc:hexanes=1:20, then 1:10) to give the second batch of the desired product (1.6 g). The two batches were combined to give (Z)-3-(3-chloro-phenyl)-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-acrylonitrile as a white powder (7.1 g, 88%).

Provenance & Evidence