2-Nitrotoluene → 4-(2-Nitrophenyl)butyronitrile

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Reaction Steps

0.75 ml of 45% sodium hydroxide solution and 175 mg of tributylmethylammonium chloride are placed in a 100 ml three-neck flask with a dropping funnel, reflux condenser and internal thermometer, stirring. At 40° C., a mixture of 1.4 ml acrylonitrile (21.15 mmol) and 25 ml ortho-nitrotoluene is added dropwise and maintained at this temperature for 3 h. The phases are separated, and the organic phase is dried and filtered off. With quantitative conversion of acrylonitrile, 1.61 g of 4-(2-nitro-phenyl)butyronitrile (8.5 mmol, 40%) are obtained.

Provenance & Evidence