Benzyl Cyanide Synthesis From Benzyl Chloride

[William D.]

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Benzyl Cyanide Synthesis From Benzyl Chloride

• G.Patton
• Apr 7, 2025
• 1
• benzyl cyanide from benzyl chloride benzyl cyanide synthesis

This video represent synthesis of benzyl cyanide from benzyl chloride with help of NaCN/KCN...

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Synthesis​

1. The reactor alternately load 215 liters of purified water, 126 kg of acetone, 4 kg of triethylamine, 6 kg of potassium iodide, 165 kg of sodium cyanide and 1500 litres of 30% trichloroethylene solution of benzyl chloride.
2. The reaction mass is heated to a temperature of 85 *C, and then stirred for 6 hours.
3. Next the reactor was added purified water in an amount of 500 liters.
4. The reaction mass is heated to a temperature of 60 *C, stirred, then defended for 4 hours at the same temperature.
5. The bottom layer is transferred to the reactor, heats up to a temperature of 80 *С and trichloroethylene is distilled off (~1000 liters).

 

[KGB69]

Can I use potassium cyanide instead?
Trichloroethylene has been distilled (1000 liters).
Do I need to distill more benzyl cyanide?

William Dampier​

 

[G.Patton]

Yes, you can

It's up to your following purposes. You can carry out vacuum distillation.

 

[Moonbow112ix]

With direct access to methyl cyanide is there any usefulness for an application such as this one? Is there a way to get where you need to or is it only possible with benzyl derivative?

 

[Ranof]

Since potassium cyanide/sodium cyanide is a strong nucleophile and is easily dissociated due to the presence of (Na,K), they are mostly used in SN2 reactions.

The CN⁻ ion has a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom (and also on carbon), which can easily attack electrophilic carbons (such as the halogenated carbon in alkyl halides).

CN⁻ is a small, anionic nucleophile, which increases its reactivity in SN2 reactions.

 

[Blammo]

Why tricloroethylene? Can it be replaced?

 

[Ranof]

Hello, there is no need for trichloroethylene.
Benzyl chloride
Potassium cyanide
Ethanol
Magnesium sulfate
Calcium chloride
These are enough.

 

[Ranof]

Trichloroethylene has been used for better efficiency.
If you don't have it, you won't have a problem