1,3-Dibromo-2-methyl-4-nitrobenzene → 3-Bromo-2-methyl-6-nitrobenzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a mixture of 2,6-dibromo-3-nitrotoluene (1.0 g, 3.4 mmol) in 14 ml of N-methylpyrrolidinone was added 0.323 g of freshly prepared copper (I) cyanide. The reaction was stirred and heated at a temperature of 150° C. under a nitrogen atmosphere for a period of three hours. After this period, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with dichloromethane, and washed with 10% aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution. The organic layer was separated, dried, and concentrated under vacuum to remove the solvent. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel, eluting with 20% ethyl acetate/80% hexane, to afford 0.293 g of 3-bromo-2-methyl-6-nitrobenzonitrile as a yellow-white crystalline solid, mp 116°-118° C.

Provenance & Evidence