Hexane → Benzofuran-3-acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a stirred mixture of hexane washed sodium hydride (2.21 g, 0.046 mol, 50%/mineral oil) in THF (125 mL), was added diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate (8.15 g, 0.046 mol) dropwise. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1/2 hour, 3-coumaranone (sublimed) (5.6 g, 0.042 mol) in THF (100 mL) was added dropwise at 0° C., and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with water (300 mL), and extracted with ether (800 mL). The extracts were washed with brine (2×100 mL), dried (MgSO4), and concentrated to yield 6.67 g (100%) of the product as an off-white solid.

Provenance & Evidence