Potassium Cyanide → 5-(2-Cyano-5-oxocyclopentyl)pentyl acetate

Participants

Reaction Steps

98 g [1.5 mols] of potassium cyanide were suspended in 600 ml of methanol, and 105 g [0.5 mol] of 2-(5-acetoxypentyl)- cyclopent-2-ene-1-one, dissolved in 45 ml of acetic acid, were added dropwise within 2.5 hours. After 20 hours, agitation at room temperature, the suspension was dropped into ice-water with agitation, extracted thrice with diethyl ether, the ether phases were united, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The oily residue was stirred for 5 hours at room temperature in 200 ml of pyridine and 30 ml of acetic anhydride, the solvent was then distilled off under reduced pressure and the residue was distilled in a bulb tube. 102 g having a boiling point of 180° C. at 0.4 mm Hg were obtained; IR spectrum: 2220 cm-1.

Provenance & Evidence