Benzaldehyde → 2-(Dimethoxymethyl)-3-phenylacrylonitrile

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Reaction Steps

Benzaldehyde (79.5 g, 0.75 mol) and 3,3-dimethoxypropionitrile (115.1 g, 1.0 mol) were mixed together and added to a solution of sodium methoxide (54.0 g, 1.0 mol) in methanol (400 mL) over a period of 15 minutes. The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Most of the methanol was evaporated in vacuo and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate (500 mL) and water (450 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with brine (400 mL), dried (MgSO4) and the solvent evaporated in vacuo. The residual oil was distilled to give 103 g (68%) of the product as a colorless oil, bp 125-130° C. (2 mm Hg).

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