Potassium Cyanide → 2-(Propan-2-yl)butanedinitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of potassium cyanide (5.81 g, 89.52 mmol) in water (12 mL) was added to a solution of ethyl 2-cyano-4-methyl-pent-2-enoate (6.5 g, 38.92 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL) at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight. The resulting mixture was refluxed for 2 h and then cooled to room temperature. The ethanol was evaporated and the residue dissolved in dichloromethane. The dichloromethane layer was washed with water and brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 2-isopropylbutanedinitrile (3.5 g, 74%) as a liquid.

Provenance & Evidence