M-AMINOBENZYL CYANIDE

621-50-1

4623-24-9

GENERAL METHOD: To a solution of m-nitrobenzeneacetonitrile (150.1 mg, 0.66 mmol) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl, 183.6 mg, 3.43 mmol) in a solvent mixture of ethanol/water (EtOH/H2O, 5:1, 6 mL) was added powdered iron (Fe, 184.4 mg, 3.30 mmol) and vigorously stirred for 1 hour at 85 °C. . After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered through a diatomaceous earth pad to remove solid impurities. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (eluent: ethyl acetate/hexane, 20:70) to afford 2-(3-aminophenyl)acetonitrile (10a, 99.2 mg, 76% yield) as a brown oil.