Potassium Carbonate → 2-Phenyl-2-(2-cyanomethoxyphenoxy)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 2-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)acetonitrile (14.9 g., 0.1 mole), 2-chloro-2-phenylacetonitrile (15.2 g., 0.1 mole), finely powdered potassium carbonate (13.8 g., 0.1 mole) and 80 ml. of acetone is refluxed 3 hours. The mixture is then treated with 2-chloro-2-phenylacetonitrile (7.6 g., 0.05 mole) and potassium carbonate (6.9 g., 0.5 mole) and refluxed six hours. The mixture is filtered, the solids washed with acetone and the combined filtrate evaporated in vacuo to give an oil. Crystallization of the oil affords 2-phenyl-2-(2-cyanomethoxyphenoxy)acetonitrile.

Provenance & Evidence