Sodium Cyanide → 2-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl bromide (1.50 g) in ethanol (15 mL) was added a solution of sodium cyanide (461 mg) in water (15 mL) at ambient temperature, and the mixture was heated for 3 hours under reflux . After evaporation of the organic solvent, the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water and brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated in vacuo to give [2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]acetonitrile (1.08 g) as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence