Methyl iodide → 3-(Cyanomethyl)benzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 9.8 g (200 mmole) of sodium cyanide and 1.61 g (5 mmole) of tetrabutylammonium bromide in 50 ml of water was added a solution of 19.61 g (100 mmole) of α-bromo-m-tolunitrile in 150 ml of dichloromethane. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. To this mixture was added 6.2 ml (100 mmole) of iodomethane. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The layers were separated and the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and was filtered. The filtrate was evaporated and the residue was triturated with petroleum ether and the insoluble material was collected to give 14.5 g of a white solid, mp-66-9° C.; 100% yield: 1H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ (TMS) 3.80-3.90(s, 2H), 7.49-7.72(m, 4H).

Provenance & Evidence