Water → [2-Methyl-6-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-3-yl]-acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

27.2 g of 3-chloromethyl-2-methyl-6-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-pyridine (95.2 mmol) were dissolved in 100 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide; 5.9 g of sodium cyanide (120 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. Then, the reaction mixture was poured into a mixture of ice and water and was subsequently extracted with 3 portions of 400 ml of tert-butyl methyl ether. The combined organic phases were washed with water, then with brine and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent, 25.2 g (95.8% of theory) of [2-methyl-6-(4-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-pyridin-3-yl]-acetonitrile were obtained as a pale yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence