Potassium Cyanide → 2-[4-(Difluoromethoxy)phenyl]acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

100 g of potassium cyanide were dissolved in 160 ml of water, and 15 g of tetrabutylammonium bromide and 230 g of 4-difluoromethoxy-benzyl bromide were then added. The mixture was then heated to 100° C. for 1 hour and, after cooling, was extracted twice with methylene chloride. After drying over sodium sulphate, the organic phase was first freed from solvent and then distilled. 145 g of 4-difluoromethoxy-benzyl cyanide were obtained. Boiling point=106°-8° C./0.3 mm Hg; nD20 =1.4822.

Provenance & Evidence