Acetonitrile → beta-Amino-2-trifluoromethylcinnamonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture consisting of 9.3 g of 2-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile, 4.5 g of acetonitrile, 4.3 g of sodium amide and 100 ml of ether is stirred and refluxed under nitrogen over night. The resulting solid is collected on a Buchner-funnel, washed with ether and dissolved in approximately 100 ml of cold ethanol. Crushed ice is added to this solution until the total volume is about 700 ml. This mixture is allowed to stand for several hours. The resulting solid precipitate is collected by filtration then dissolved in methanol and decolorizing charcoal is added. The charcoal/methanol mixture is filtered and the filtrate is gradually treated with water until crystallization is judged complete. The crystalline solid is collected and dried under vacuum, to give 7.75 g of β-amino-2-trifluoromethylcinnamonitrile, mp 101°-103°.

Provenance & Evidence