Ammonia → 4-Amino-3-methylbenzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To an N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (0.5 L) solution of 4-bromo-2-methylaniline (40 g) was added copper cyanide (38.5 g; 043 moli). The stirred mixture was heated at 200° C. for 2.5 hrs. The mixture was cooled at room temperature then water (1.9 L) and ammonia (0.5 L, 32%) were added. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×1.2 L) and the combined organic phases then washed with a mixture of water/ammonia (0.5 L+0.2 L, 32%) and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated under vacuum to give the title compound as a brown solid (27.5 g). This material was used in the next step without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence