Acrylonitrile → Benzeneacetonitrile, 4-fluoro-

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Reaction Steps

Twenty-five g of 4-fluorobenzylcyanide is mixed with approximately 3.5 ml of freshly distilled acrylonitrile in a suitable reaction vessel. To this stirred mixture is added dropwise a solution of 80 mg of sodium methoxide in 1 ml of methanol. When about half of the sodium methoxide is added, there is an exothermic reaction. After all the sodium methoxide is added, the mixture is kept on a steam-bath for 2 hours and is then dissolved in toluene and washed with water. The toluene is removed by evaporation and the residue is separated into its components by fractional distillation to give 18 g of 4-fluorobenzylcyanide, and 2 g of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)glutaronitrile, bp 118°-122° C. at 0.03 mm.

Provenance & Evidence