Benzyl Chloride → Phenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 0.635 g. (0.005 mole) benzyl chloride, O.50 g. sodium cyanide (0.010 mole), 0.53 g. (0.0005 mole) compound I (R = --CH2CH2 -O--2CH2CH3), and 15 ml. acetonitrile was stirred at reflux for 3.0 hours, at which time vapor-phase chromatographic analysis of the reaction mixture showed complete consumption of benzyl chloride and formation of phenylacetonitrile as the sole product. The reaction mixture was poured into water and extracted with petroleum ether to afford phenylacetonitrile and recovered catalyst I (82% yield).

Provenance & Evidence