Hydrochloric Acid → 16-Cyanohexadecanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 16-bromohexadecanoic acid (16.61 g, 49.5 mmol), DMSO (150 ml), NaCN (12.5 g, 255 mmol), and NaI (1.92 g, 12.8 mmol) was stirred at 120° C. for 20 h. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, and was then poured into a stirred mixture of water (1.7 l) and concentrated HCl (30 ml). Rinsing with water (100 ml). The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature overnight. The product was filtered and washed with water (2×100 ml), and the solid was recrystallized twice from MeCN (90 ml and 50 ml). 10.1 g (72%) of 16-cyanohexadecanoic acid was obtained.

Provenance & Evidence