Ammonia → 2-Fluoro-4-methylbenzonitrile

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Reaction Steps

A mixture of 1-bromo-2-fluoro-4-methylbenzene (70 g, 370 mmol) and CuCN (50 g, 555 mmol) in DMF (300 mL) was heated at reflux for 24 h. After cooling to RT, concentrated aqueous ammonia (300 mL) and diethyl ether (200 mL) were added and the mixture stirred for 1 h. The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (3×200 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (3×200 mL) and dried over sodium sulfate. Solvent was removed in vacuo to give the product (44 g, 88%) as pale yellow solid. MS (M+H)+ 136.

Provenance & Evidence