Methanol → 2-(Hydroxymethyl)pyridine-4-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 4-cyanopyridine (31.2 g), ammonium persulphate (136.8 g), methanol (450 ml), concentrated sulphuric acid (16.2 ml) and water (210 ml) was heated under reflux for 24 hours, and the methanol was removed by distillation. Crushed ice (450 g) was added and the mixture was adjusted to pH 12 with 10 M sodium hydroxide and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts were combined and evaporated and the residue was purified by elution from a silica gel column with methanol-chloroform (7.5% v/v) to give 4-cyano-2-hydroxymethylpyridine (18.5 g, 46%) m.p. 92°-94°.

Provenance & Evidence