Potassium Cyanide → 1-Benzyl-4-(dimethylamino)piperidine-4-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 1-(phenylmethyl)-4-piperidone (9.46 g, 50 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL) was added slowly to a stirred solution of potassium cyanide (3.58 g, 55 mmol) and dimethylamine hydrochloride (4.89 g, 60 mmol) in water (60 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 68 hours, then water (100 mL) was added. The solid was collected, suspended in aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (saturated, 100 mL) and water (50 mL) and extracted with dichloromethane (3×100 mL). The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give the the title compound as a cream solid (11.69 g, 96%). m/z (ES+) 244 (M+1).

Provenance & Evidence