Isoamyl Nitrite → 3-Methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 2-amino-5-methyl-4-trifluoromethyl-benzonitrile from step 4 (23.34 g, 117 mmol) in dry THF (350 mL) was added isoamyl nitrite (34.3 mL, 257 mmol) and the mixture was refluxed for 20 h. Additional isoamyl nitrite (16.6 mL, 129 mmol) was added and the mixture was refluxed for further 20 h. The mixture was cooled to 23° C. and diluted with TBME, the organic layer was washed with 1 N HCl, sat. NaHCO3-sol. and brine, dried over Na2SO4. Removal of the solvent in vacuum left a brown oil (25.82 g), which was purified by bulb to bulb distillation to give a yellow liquid (20.11 g), which was finally purified by distillation to give the title compound as a yellow liquid (17.10 g, 79%; bp 38-42° C. at 0.8 mbar). MS (EI) 185.1 [M].

Provenance & Evidence