Potassium Cyanide → 2-(4-Bromo-2-fluorophenyl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 4-bromo-1-(bromomethyl)-2-fluorobenzene (20 g, 74 mmol) and potassium cyanide (10 g, 150 mmol) in ethanol (150 mL) and water (30 mL) was stirred at 70° C. for 1 hour. The resulting solution was diluted with water (50 mL), and then extracted with EtOAc (3×200 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by MPLC on Silica gel (eluting with 2-5% EtOAc/hexane) to afford the title compound as a light yellow oil. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.38-7.22 (m, 3H), 3.74 (s, 2H). MS ESI: [M+H]+ m/z 214.

Provenance & Evidence