Water → 4-Hydroxybenzyl cyanide

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A stirred suspension of sodium p-hydroxymandelate monohydrate (50 g. of 77% w/w material, the impurity being sodium chloride) and sodium cyanide (12.5 g.) in N,N-dimethylformamide (67.5 ml.) is heated at 135° C. for 2 hours and then cooled. Water (200 ml.) and formic acid (20 ml.) are added and the mixture is extracted twice with methyl isobutyl ketone (200 ml. and 100 ml.). The combined extracts are washed twice with water (50 ml. each time) and are then concentrated by evaporation. There is thus obtained a solution of p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide in methyl isobutyl ketone which is suitable for conversion to p-hydroxyphenylacetamide without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence