Ethylenediamine → Benzofuran-4-carbonitrile

Participants

Reaction Steps

Combine 4-bromo-benzofuran (1.0 g, 5.07 mmol), copper(I) cyanide (0.9 g, 10.2 mmol), anhydrous DMF (16 ml) and reflux for 17 h. Cool the reaction mixture to ambient temperature, treat with 50% (v/v) aqueous ethylenediamine (25 mL). Extract the reaction mixture with diethyl ether (3×15 mL), combine the organic extracts, wash with brine (15 mL) and dry over anhydrous Na2SO4. Evaporate the solvent and purify by chromatography on silica gel eluting with hexane/EtOAc (1:0, 9:1 and 4:1) to obtain the desired intermediate as a colorless oil (0.3 g, 39%).

Provenance & Evidence