Nitric Acid → 2-Chloro-4-fluoro-5-nitrobenzyl cyanide

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Reaction Steps

10 g of 2-chloro-4-fluorobenzyl cyanide are dissolved at a temperature of -10° C., with stirring, in 85 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid, in the process of which a fine light-brown suspension is formed. There are then slowly added dropwise at -20° C., with stirring, 5 ml of fuming nitric acid. After completion of the addition, stirring is continued for a further half hour, the temperature rising to 0° C. The reaction mixture is poured onto 500 g of ice, and the substance which precipitates is extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride phase is dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated by evaporation to leave 10.5 g of 2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-nitrobenzyl cyanide in the form of white crystals having a melting point of 67°-68° C.

Provenance & Evidence