Sodium Cyanide → 4-(Trifluoromethylthio)phenylacetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

75 g of sodium cyanide were dissolved in 200 ml of water, and 15 g of tetraethylammonium chloride after 450 g of 4-trifluoromethylmercapto-benzyl chloride were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 110° C. for 1 hour and then cooled. The cold mixture was diluted with 200 ml of water and then extracted twice with methylene chloride. After drying the organic phase, the solvent was distilled off and the crude product was purified by distillation. 410 g of 4-trifluoromethylmercapto-benzyl cyanide were obtained. Boiling point=95°-97° C./1.5 mm Hg; nD20 =1.5025.

Provenance & Evidence