Water → 1-(Diphenylmethyl)azetidine-3-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 1-benzhydryl-3-(methanesulfonyloxy)azetidine (7.52 g) in N,N-dimethylformamide (60 ml) were added water (7.2 ml) and sodium cyanide (3.48 g), followed by stirring at 65° C. for 9 hr. To the reaction mixture were added water, sodium carbonate and ethyl acetate, and this was partitioned. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was combined, washed with brine, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. This was concentrated under reduced pressure, and the resultant crystals were suspended by addition of diethyl ether (10 ml). The crystals were collected by filtration and washed with diethyl ether. This was dried under aeration to provide the titled compound as pale yellow crystals (5.43 g, 92.3%).

Provenance & Evidence