Hydrogen Cyanide → 4-methoxybenzoyl cyanide

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 135 g (1 mole) of dimethylbenzylamine in 100 ml of toluene was added dropwise, at -20° C, while cooling, in the course of 30 minutes to a mixture of 170 g (1 mole) of para-methoxybenzoyl chloride and 50 g of anhydrous hydrocyanic acid in 400 ml of toluene at such a rate that the internal temperature did not rise above -20° C during the addition. When the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred for a further 10 minutes at -20° C and excess hydrocyanic acid was then distilled, under a waterpump vacuum, into a cooled receiver. The residue was recrystallized from a mixture of benzene and ligroin. In this way 128 g (77% of theory) of para-methyoxybenzoyl cyanide with a melting point of 63° C were obtained.

Provenance & Evidence