p-Toluenesulfonic acid → 2-(2,2-Dimethylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)acetonitrile

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of (3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-acetonitrile (0.20 g, 1.3 mmol) in toluene (4 mL) was added 2,2-dimethoxy-propane (0.28 g, 2.6 mmol) and TsOH (0.010 g, 0.065 mmol). The mixture was heated at reflux overnight. The reaction mixture was evaporated to remove the solvent and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with NaHCO3 solution, H2O, brine, and dried over Na2SO4. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give a residue, which was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate 10:1) to give 2-(2,2-dimethylbenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)acetonitrile (40 mg, 20%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 6.68-6.71 (m, 3H), 3.64 (s, 2H), 1.67 (s, 6H).

Provenance & Evidence