O-Cresol → ((4-Hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)sulfanyl)formonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

Sodium thiocyanate (23.5 g, 0.29 mole) was added to a solution of ortho-cresol (31.4 g, 0.29 mole) in methyl alcohol (225 ml) and cooled by an ice bath. A solution of bromine (46.4 g, 0.29 mole) in methyl alcohol (50 ml) was added dropwise over 45 minutes. The reaction was filtered and poured into water (400 ml). Sodium thiosulfate was added to eliminate the color (yellow). The product was extracted into ethyl ether (2×200 ml). The ethyl ether extracts were washed with water (100 ml), 1N hydrochloric acid (200 ml) and saturated sodium chloride (50 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The product was purified by chromatography on silica. The structure was confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy.

Provenance & Evidence