Water → (alphaRS)-Cyano-3-benzoylbenzyl alcohol

Participants

Reaction Steps

3-Benzoylbenzaldehyde (1.0 g) in dioxan (5 ml) was treated with water (2.5 ml) and sodium cyanide (0.5 g). The whole was cooled below 15° C. and 40% sulphuric acid (1.4 ml) added dropwise (care being taken to ensure that this temperature was not exceeded). Stirring was continued for 1 hour when water (30 ml) was added and the product extracted with methylene chloride and washed with water, saturated NaCl, dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated.

Provenance & Evidence