Methanol → 2-Furoylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

63.05 grams (0.5 mole) of furan-2-carboxylic acid ethyl ester and 30.0 grams (1 mole) of sodium hydride (80 weight % suspension in white oil) were reacted with 41 grams (1 mole) of acetonitrile in 500 ml of toluene with the addition of 1 ml of methanol at 90° C. After 3 hours reaction time the toluene was distilled off, the residue stirred with 500 ml of water, acidified with hydrochloric acid to pH 1.5 and the precipitated product filtered off with suction and recrystallized from methanol. There were obtained 51.3 grams (76% of theory) of 2-furanoylacetonitrile having a melting point of 74°-75° C.

Provenance & Evidence