Potassium Cyanide → 3-Chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine-2-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of potassium cyanide (71.6 g) in water (215 g) was added during 1 hour to a stirred mixture of 3-chloro-2-fluoro-5-trifluoromethylpyridine (199.5 g) and Aliquat 336 (tricaprylylmethylammonium chloride, 12.1 g) at 30° C. Stirring was maintained at this temperature for 4 hours at which time the amount of starting fluoride was less than 1% by hplc. The lower organic phase was separated and washed with aqueous sodium chloride solution and distilled to give 3-chloro-2-cyano-5-trifluoromethylpyridine (185.8 g, 90% yield) bp 90° C. at 15 mbar. The purity of this product was 98%.

Provenance & Evidence