Acetonitrile → 4-Methoxybenzoylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

166.2 grams (1 mole) of 4-methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester and 60 grams (2 moles) of sodium hydride (80 weight % suspension in white oil) were heated to 65° C. in 750 ml of dry toluene. Within 2 hours there were dropped in 82.1 grams (2 moles) of acetonitrile at 85° C. and then stirring was continued for a further 20 hours at 90° C. The precipitate was filtered off with suction, 200 ml of glacial acetic acid slowly stirred in with cooling and subsequently the mixture was added to 1 liter of ice water. The precipitated crystal mass was filtered off with suction, post washed with water and recrystallized from acetone. There were thus obtained 149 grams (85% of theory) or 4-methoxybenzoylacetonitrile having a melting point of 127°-129° C.

Provenance & Evidence