Dimethyl Sulfoxide → 2-(6-Methylpyridin-3-yl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium cyanide (38.6 g, 787.7 mmol, 1.5 equiv), 5-(chloromethyl)-2-methylpyridine (74.37 g, 527.4 mmol, 1 equiv) and DMSO (750 mL, 10 vol) were charged into a reactor and placed under nitrogen. This exothermic mixture self-heated to ca. 45° C. and was heated to 60° C. After 15 min, TLC (eluent: EtOAc:heptanes 50/50) indicated that the reaction was completed. The mixture was cooled to RT and water (1500 mL, 20 vol) was added slowly; the exotherm was controlled by the addition rate. The solution was extracted with EtOAc (4×750 mL), and the combined organic layer was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting oil was purified by chromatography (eluent: EtOAc), to obtain 2-(6-methylpyridin-3-yl)acetonitrile.

Provenance & Evidence