Potassium Cyanide → 2,6-Difluoro-4-methoxyphenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of KCN (0.88 g, 13 mmol) dissolved in water (2 mL) was added dropwise to a water-bath-cooled solution of 2,6-difluoro-4-methoxybenzyl bromide (2.50 g, 10.5 mmol) in N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred for 20 min. Water was added (20 mL) and then the reaction mixture was poured into saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution (20 mL) and extracted with ether (50 mL). The organic phase was washed with water (5×25 mL), dried over MgSO4, and concentrated to give an oil, which crystallized on standing to provide the title compound as a white solid (1.9 g).

Provenance & Evidence