Sodium Cyanide → Methyl 4-(cyanomethyl)-3-fluorobenzoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of methyl 4-(bromomethyl)-3-fluorobenzoate (18 g, 73 mmol) in MeOH (150 ml) was added the solution of NaCN (7.2 g, 146 mmol) in H2O (40 ml). The mixture was stirred at 65° C. for 5 hours. Most of MeOH was evaporated and additional water was added and extracted by EtOAc (200 ml×3), dried with anhydrous Na2SO4, filtered and evaporated to give the crude product. Purification by column chromatography (PE/EtOAc=50/1 to 10/1) gave the product (8 g, 63.8%).

Provenance & Evidence