Diphosgene → Methyl trans-4-cyanocyclohexanecarboxylate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 4-carbamoyl-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid methyl ester (2.14 g, 11.6 mmol) in trimethyl phosphate (14 mL) cooled in an ice bath was dripped in diphosgene (2.24 g 11.6 mmol) and the reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature over 2 hr. The material was diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL) and washed with an aqueous sodium bicarbonate (saturated, 200 mL) and brine (200 mL), dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated as a clear oil. The oil was triturated with hexanes to give 4-cyano-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid methyl ester (687 mg 36%) as a clear oil. LCMS calcd for C9H13NO2 (m/e) 167, obsd 168 (M+H).

Provenance & Evidence