Malononitrile → [1-(3-Methoxyphenyl)ethylidene]propanedinitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of acetic acid (60 mL) was added hexamethyldisilazane (26.2 mL, 125 mmol) dropwise over 30 min with temperature kept below 40° C. throughout addition. This resulting solution was subsequently added to a stirred solution of malononitrile (13.50 g, 204 mmol) and 3-methoxyacetophenone (13.71 mL, 100 mmol) in acetic acid (30 mL). The final reaction mixture heated to 70° C. under nitrogen for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT, partitioned between toluene and water (150 mL each). The aqueous layer was separated and re-extracted with toluene (2×60 mL). The combined organic layer was dried over Na2SO4 and solvent removed in vacuo, to afford the title compound (20 g). LCMS (A) m/z: 199 [M+1]+, Rt 1.20 min (acidic).

Provenance & Evidence