Isoamyl Nitrite → 2-Hydroxyimino-2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of sodium ethoxide prepared from sodium (1.09 g) and ethanol (20 ml), a solution of 3-phenoxyphenylacetonitrile (8.30 g) in ethanol (15 ml) was added dropwise at 0° C., and then isoamyl nitrite (7.99 ml) was added dropwise. After stirring for 15 hours at room temperature, diethyl ether was added and the mixture was washed sequentially with 1N HCl, aqueous sodium bicarbonate and then saturated aqueous sodium chloride. The diethyl ether layer was dried (MgSO4), concentrated, and the residue was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel. The crystals obtained from a fraction eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane (1:4, v/v) were recrystallized with ethyl acetate-hexane to obtain 2-hydroxyimino-2-(3-phenoxyphenyl)acetonitrile (4.25 g, yield: 45%) as pale-yellow crystals. A mixture of the E-form and the Z-form. m.p. 124-125° C.

Provenance & Evidence