Potassium Cyanide → 3-Methyl-2-(methylamino)-3-phenylbutanenitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To a solution of potassium cyanide (103 g, 1.56 mol) and methylamine hydrochloride (106 g, 1.56 mol) in water (1000 mL) is added a solution of 2-methyl-2-phenylpropanal (222 g, 1.50 mol) in methanol (1000 mL) over a period of 30 minutes. An ice-water bath is used occasionally to maintain the reaction temperature between 20-25° C. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 25 hours. Water (2000 mL) is then added and the reaction mixture is extracted with CH2Cl2 (3×800 mL). The combined organic extracts are washed with brine (500 mL) and dried over Na2SO4. The organic extracts are filtered and concentrated to give 3-methyl-2-(methylamino)-3-phenylbutanenitrile as an oil (274 g, 95% yield, 76.6% by HPLC area, NMR (>95%)). Evidence of decomposition on the HPLC/GC column is noted.

Provenance & Evidence