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+ Biochemistry
+ Chemistry
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Posted by
Oslo Wilhunky

How to convert phenylacetic acid to 3-phenylpropionitrile?

Chris Gold  Follow

You need to add one carbon, the easiest source of this is as CN-.

Three steps.

  1. Reduce phenylacetic acid to 2-phenylethanol (borane.THF is a good way)

  2. Form the tosylate of the alcohol (TsCl, pyridine)

  3. Treat the tosylate with NaCN in DMSO reference here.

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