Potassium Cyanide → 3-Methyl-6-(phenylthio)-phenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

194 g of potassium cyanide in 250 ml of water are heated under reflux for 17 hours under an argon atmosphere with 616.9 g of 3-methyl-6-(phenylthio)-benzyl chloride in 900 ml of ethanol. Then the ethanol is distilled off under reduced pressure, the residue then diluted with water and extracted with ether. The extracts are washed with water, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated. There is obtained 3-methyl-6-(phenylthio)-phenylacetonitrile as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence