Nitric Acid → N-(4-(Cyanomethyl)-2-nitrophenyl)acetamide

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Concentrated nitric acid (10 mL, >69% pure) was added to acetic anhydride (100 mL) cooled to −10° C. The solution was treated portionwise with N-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]acetamide (5.0 g, 28.7 mmol) at a rate which maintained an internal temperature below −5° C. The solution was stirred for 1 hour while warming to room temperature. The solution was poured into an ice/water mixture and extracted several times with ethyl acetate. The combined extracts were washed with 10% Na2CO3 and brine, dried (MgSO4), filtered, and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel with 1:1 hexanes/ethyl acetate to provide 4.82 g (77%) of N-[4-(cyanomethyl)-2-nitrophenyl]acetamide.

Provenance & Evidence