Potassium Cyanide → 2-Oxo-1,2-di(4-cyanophenyl)ethane

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 25 g of p-cyanobenzaldehyde in 50 ml of ethanol was added 5 g of potassium cyanide in 10 ml of water. The mixture was heated at reflux for 1 hr, cooled, and the crystalline product was filtered and washed with cold ethanol. Recrystallization from acetic acid afforded 4.7 g of the part (a) title compound, mp. 209°-215° C.

Provenance & Evidence