Dimethylformamide → 5-Cyanomethyl-2,7-dibromo-3-phenylbenzofuran

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 17.8 g. (0.040 mole) of 5-bromomethyl-2,7-dibromo-3-phenylbenzofuran in 150 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide, 2.0 g. (0.04 mole) of sodium cyanide and 15 ml. of water is heated on a steam bath for 1.5 hours. The mixture is poured into one liter of water and stirred for about 16 hours. The mixture is extracted with 500 ml. of ethyl acetate, the extracts washed with water, then dried. Evaporation followed by trituration with hexane-ethyl acetate gives 5-cyanomethyl-2,7-dibromo-3-phenylbenzofuran as a white solid.

Provenance & Evidence