Benzophenone → 3,3-Diphenylacrylonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of sodium hydride (60% wt in mineral oil) (0.780 g, 32.5 mmol) in THF (100 mL) at room temperature was added diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (4.50 g, 25.4 mmol) (4 mL). The mixture was stirred for 30 min and benzophenone (4.22 g, 23.2 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1d, and partially concentrated, diluted with Et2O, washed with water (1×), brine (1×), dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated. Purification by flash column chromatography on silica gel (eluted with 5% to 20% EtOAc in hexanes) gave 3,3-diphenylacrylonitrile.

Provenance & Evidence