Water → Methyl 4-(cyanomethyl)benzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

Part A: To a stirred solution of 7.5 g(153 mmol) sodium cyanide in 75 mL of THF was added 40 mL of DMF followed by 11.5 g (50.2 mmol) of of methyl 4-(bromomethyl)benzoate in 30 mL of DMF over 10 min. The solution was stirred 18 and treated with 100 mL water. The mixture was filtered, rinsed with water, and air-dried briefly to give 6.7 g (76%) of 4-(carbomethoxy)phenylacetonitrile as a white solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, DMSO) δ 7.95(d, 2H, J=8.4 Hz); 7.47(d, 2H, J=8.5 Hz); 4.14(s, 2H); 3.82(s, 3H).

Provenance & Evidence