Benzyl Bromide → 4-Benzyloxyphenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

4-Hydroxybenzyl cyanide (2.5 g, 18.77 mmol), benzyl bromide (3.8 g, 22:5 mmol) and potassium carbonate (45 mmol) were combined in acetone (50 mL) and heated to reflux for 8 h. The reaction was allowed to cool to rt, diluted with ethyl acetate and filtered to remove the solids. The organic layer was concentrated in vacuo to give an oil. The crude benzyl ether was purified by chromatography on silica gel eluting hexane:ethyl acetate (90:10, v:v) to give 4-benzyloxybenzyl cyanide (4.0 g, 95%) which solidified. MS (M+NH4)+=241.

Provenance & Evidence