N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone → 3-Nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)picolinonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A microwave reaction vial was charged with 2-chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (2 g, 8.83 mmol), NMP (4.41 ml) and CuCN (0.830 g, 9.27 mmol). The vial was sealed and the mixture was irradiated in the MW at 175° C. for 15 min. Upon cooling to RT, the reaction mixture was poured onto ice and EtOAc was added. The mixture was filtered through Celite, washing with EtOAc and a small amount of MeOH. The layers of the filtrate were separated, and the aqueous portion was extracted again with EtOAc. The combined organic portions were dried with sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The crude material was purified by silica gel chromatography, using a gradient of 0-30% EtOAc in heptane to provide 3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)picolinonitrile (645 mg, 2.97 mmol, 33.7% yield) as a yellow oil that solidified upon standing. LC/MS (ESI) m/z=218.1 (M+H).

Provenance & Evidence