Potassium Cyanide → Ethyl 3-cyano-3-phenylpropanoate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 64 g (257.8 mmol) of diethyl benzylidenepropanedioate and 17 g (261 mmol) of potassium cyanide in 750 mL of EtOH and 75 mL of water is heated for 18 hours at 60° C. The medium is then concentrated under reduced pressure and taken up in 500 mL of brine and then extracted with Et2O (2×500 mL). The organic phases are dried over Na2SO4, filtered and then concentrated under reduced pressure. 43.5 g of ethyl 3-cyano-3-phenylpropanoate are obtained in the form of a solid, which is used without further purification in the following step.

Provenance & Evidence