Sodium Cyanide → 3-Hydroxy-3-methylpentanedinitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 50 g 2-methyl-2-chloromethyloxirane in 23 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid at ice-bath temperature a solution of 27.4 g sodium cyanide in 23 ml hydrochloric acid was added. After stirring for 10 hours at that temperature the reaction mixture was warmed to 40° C. and a solution of 33.8 g potassium cyanide in 50 ml water was added. The resulting mixture was warmed to 50° C. and stirred for 4 hours. After cooling the solution was neutralized and extracted three times with 150 ml ethyl acetate each. The combined organic layers were dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. Removal of the solvent afforded 56.4 g (96%) of 1,3-dicyano-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropane. This crude material was sufficiently pure to be submitted directly to the following ring closure.

Provenance & Evidence