o-Xylyl bromide → 2-(2-Methylbenzyl)-3-oxobutanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of (1-cyano-2-oxopropyl)sodium (525 mg, 5 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was added 1-(bromomethyl)-2-methylbenzene (648 mg, 3.5 mmol) dropwise over a period of 15 min at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h and at room temperature for 2 h. Then this solution was diluted with saturated aq. ammonium chloride solution. This solution was extracted with ethyl acetate (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with water and brine, dried over Na2SO4, concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by a silica gel chromatography (petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=15/1) to give the titled product (181 mg, 28%) as a colorless oil; LC/MS: MS (ES+) m/e 188 (MH+); 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 3.06 (dd, J=9.6, 14.1 Hz, 1H), 3.28 (dd, J=5.4, 14.1 Hz, 1H), 3.60 (dd, J=5.4, 9.6 Hz, 1H), 7.18-7.22 (m, 4H).

Provenance & Evidence