4-(Cyanomethyl)benzoic acid → 2-(4-(Hydroxymethyl)phenyl)acetonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

5.17 g (32 mol) of CDl are added to a solution of 4.7 g (29 mol) of 4-cyanomethyl-benzoic acid in 250 mL of tetrahydrofuran and stirred until no more gas is given off. This reaction mixture is added dropwise to a solution of 3.29 g (87 mol) of sodium borohydride in 200 mL of water in such a way that the temperature does not exceed 30° C. The mixture is stirred for two hours and the reaction mixture is adjusted to pH 3-4 with potassium hydrogen sulphate solution. Then it is extracted with EtOAc, the organic phase is dried over magnesium sulphate and the solvent is separated off using the rotary evaporator.

Provenance & Evidence