Ethyl formate → alpha-Formyl-4-benzylphenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspention of sodium methoxide (64.26 g) in toluene (2.5 l) was added dropwise at 0° C. a mixture of ethyl formate (88.14 g) and 4-benzylphenylacetonitrile (189.69 g) with stirring. After 30 minutes, ice bath was removed. After 20 hours, ice water (2.6 l) was added to the reaction mixture, and the aqueous layer was separated. The organic layer was washed with 0.5N sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (500 ml×5). The aqueous layer and the washings were combined, adjusted to acid with conc. hydrochloric acid, and stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes. The precipitate was separated by filtration, washed, and dried to give the title compound (152.22 g).

Provenance & Evidence