Acetonitrile → 4-(Benzyloxy)-3-oxobutanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

In a stream of argon, 156.2 ml (0.248 mole) of a solution of 1.6 moles of n-butyllithiumhexane was added to 150 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The mixture was cooled to -78° C., and a solution of 15.8 ml (0.293 mole) of acetonitrile in 50 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at -78° C. for 1 hour. A solution of 55.2 g (0.248 mole) of ethylbenzyloxyacetate in 100 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at -78° C. for 15 minutes and at room temperature for 50 minutes. The mixture was then poured into 200 ml of ice water. The aqueous layer was washed with ether, acidified with concentrated hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ether. The ether layer was washed with water and a saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 70.9 g of crude 4-benzyloxy-3-ketobutanenitrile.

Provenance & Evidence