Benzyl Alcohol → Propanenitrile, 3-(phenylmethoxy)-

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of benzyl alcohol (108 g, 1 mol) and 40% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (10 mL) was added prop-2-enenitrile (58.3 g, 1.1 mol) and the mixture was stirred for 6 hours at room temperature. The mixture was neutralized with 1 N hydrochloric acid, and extracted with dichloromethane (300 mL). The organic layer was washed with 5% solution of sodium hydroxide (300 mL) and brine (300 mL), dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to afford 150 g of the desired compound (yield was 93%).

Provenance & Evidence