Dimethylformamide → 3,5-Dimethylbenzonitrile

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Reaction Steps

3,5-dimethylbenzamide (50 g, 0.3356M) was suspended in benzene (400 mL). Thionyl chloride (49 mL, 0.671M) and DMF (2 mL) were added and the mixture was refluxed for 2 hr. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture was poured into a crushed ice. After 1 hr., the solution was neutralized by the addition of 6N sodium hydroxide solution. The product was then extracted with ether, dried with anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to give a yellow solid. The crude product was then purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent, EA:hexane (1:4)) to afford 42 g (95%) of 3,5-dimethylbenzonitrile as a yellow solid. m.p. 51-52° C. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ 2.34 (6H, s), 7.21 (1H, s), 7.26 (2H, s).

Provenance & Evidence