Production of .alpha.-cyanobenzyl esters
AssigneeCiba-Geigy Corporation
InventorsPeter Tissington, Rodney M. Giddings, Michael T. Pearse
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Abstract
.alpha.-Cyanobenzyl esters of the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an optionally substituted alkyl or cycloalkyl group and R.sub.2 is phenoxy, phenylthio or benzyl, are prepared by reacting a benzaldehyde of general formula (II) ##STR2## an acid halide of the general formula (III) R.sub.1 CO Hal (III) with an excess of a water soluble cyanide in a reaction medium comprising water and a substantially water-immiscible inert organic solvent in the presence of from 20 to 5000 ppm based on the weight of acid halide of formula (III), of a tertiary amine.
Claims10
In a process for the production of .alpha.-cyanobenzyl esters of the general formula (I) ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1 is an optionally substituted alkyl or cycloalkyl group and R.sub.2 is phenoxy, phenylthio or benzyl which comprises reacting substantially equimolar amounts of a benzaldehyde of the general formula II ##STR9## wherein R.sub.2 is as defined above, and an acid halide of the general formula III
- R.sub.1 CO Hal (III)
- wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above and Hal represents chlorine or bromine, with an excess of a water soluble cyanide in a reaction medium comprising water and a substantially water-immiscible inert organic solvent, the improvement which comprises carrying out the reaction in the presence of from 100 to 1000 ppm, based on the weight of acid halide of formula III, of pyridine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.