Aminoacetonitrile → n-(Cyanomethyl)-3-oxobutanamide

Participants

Reaction Steps

While stirring at -10° to 0° C, 92 g of freshly distilled diketene are added dropwise to a solution of 400 ml of methanol and 56 g of freshly distilled aminoacetonitrile. The mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature and stirring is continued for 2 hours at 35° C in a water bath. The solvent is distilled off by rotary evaporation and the solid residue is suspended in cold ether. Suction filtration yields the colourless, crystalline, pure acetoacetic N-cyanomethylamide with a melting point of 63°-65° C.

Provenance & Evidence