Sodium Cyanide → 2-(4-Fluoro-3-phenoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyacetonitrile

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Reaction Steps

To a solution of 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzaldehyde (0.39 g, 1.8 mmol) in 25 ml of ether is added 25 ml of water followed by sodium cyanide (0.149 g, 3.04 mmol). The mixture is stirred vigorously while a solution of sodium bisulfite (0.257 g, 2.47 mmol) in 15 ml of water is added over about 5 minutes. The reaction mixture is stirred for two hours. The organic phase is separated, washed with water, dried over calcium sulfate and solvent evaporated to give α-cyano-4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol.

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