Potassium Cyanide → 2-(3,5-Dichlorophenyl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a vigorously stirred solution of 3,5-dichlorobenzylchloride (28 g) in dichloromethane (150 ml) was added a mixture of KCN (27.5 g) and tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate (2.38 g) in water (110 ml). After stirring at room temperature for 22 hours, the mixture was diluted with dichloromethane, the organic phase washed with water and concentrated in vacuo to leave an oil. Filtration through silica with toluene followed by concentration then trituration with hexane gave the desired product as a colourless solid. 15.8 g, mp. 31°-32° C.

Provenance & Evidence