Sodium Cyanide → 3-Cyanomethyl-5-(3-fluoro-4-phenyl-alpha-methylbenzyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of 3.82 g of 3-chloromethyl-5-(3-fluoro-4-phenyl-α-methylbenzyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole in 50 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added 0.75 g of sodium cyanide. After stirring for 1 hour at room temperature, the reaction mixture was poured into ice-water. The resultant mixture was extracted with benzene and the extracts were washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed over silica gel using benzene to yield 2.4 g of 3-cyanomethyl-5-(3-fluoro-4-phenyl-α-methylbenzyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole. It was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-diisopropyl ether to give colorless plates, m.p. 111°-112° C.

Provenance & Evidence