Sodium Hydroxide → Methyl 4-chloro-3-cyanobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of sodium nitrite (1.28 g) in water (8 ml) was added over 10 min to a mixture of methyl 3-amino-4-chlorobenzoate (4.0 g) in water (40 ml) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (5 ml) at 0° C. After 30 min the mixture was neutralised with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to pH˜7 then added portionwise to a solution of copper cyanide (prepared from sodium cyanide (2.87 g) and copper(I) chloride (2.23 g) in water (40 ml)) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h then partitioned between ethyl acetate and water. The organics were washed with water, dried and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was triturated with 20% ethyl acetate/isohexane to yield a solid (1.55 g).

Provenance & Evidence