Hydrochloric Acid → Valeric acid, 5-cyano-

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Reaction Steps

A 200-mL portion of the filtrate of the product mixture described above, containing the 5-cyanopentanoic acid ammonium salt (1.13M ), was adjusted to pH 2.5 with 6N HCl, then saturated with sodium chloride and extracted with 4×200 mL of ethyl ether. The combined ether extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the solvent removed by rotary evaporation at reduced pressure. Remaining ether was removed by stirring the colorless liquid at room temperature under high vacuum (60 millitorr) for 5 h to yield 27.32 g (95% isolated yield) of 5-cyanopentanoic acid. The 5-cyanopentanoic acid was then distilled under vacuum (75 millitorr) at 110°-112° C. without decomposition.

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