Phenylacetonitrile → Diethyl [cyano(phenyl)methyl]phosphonate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a stirred solution of benzyl cyanide (2.5 g) in dry tetrahydrofuran (25 mL), slowly added lithium hexamethyl disilazane (26 mL, 1.0M in THF) under nitrogen atmosphere at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1 hour and chloro diethyl phosphite (5 g) was added slowly under nitrogen atmosphere at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for about 2 hours and quenched with saturated ammonium chloride solution (25 mL). The reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (50 mL) and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4. Evaporation of solvent under reduced pressure gave crude diethyl cyano(phenyl)methylphosphonate (3 g) as yellow liquid, which was used without any purification. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ 1.24-1.28 (t, 3H), 1.30-1.33 (t, 3H), 4.14-3.90 (m, 4H), 4.20 (d, 1H), δ 7.45-7.20 (m, 5H).

Provenance & Evidence