Sodium Cyanide → 3-Benzoylpropionitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3-chloro-1-phenylpropan-1-one (5.0 g, 29.7 mmol) in hot ethanol (7 mL) was added potassium acetate (2.91 g, 29.77 mmol). After cooling to room temperature, the precipitated salt was removed via filtration. To the filtrate in a septum-sealed flask under a nitrogen bubbler was slowly added sodium cyanide (2.91 g, 59.3 mmol) as a solution in water (10 mL). After stirring at room temperature for 24 hours, ethanol (30 mL) was added, and the mixture was cooled in an ice bath. The precipitate was filtered and rinsed with ethanol to provide the product (3.42 g, 73%) as fluffy white solid.

Provenance & Evidence