Process for the alkylation of alkyl- or benzonitrile in the presence of trialkyl amines or phosphines

• Main Authors: FLEMMING, HANS-WOLFRAM DR, LEHNERT, RUDOLF DR, KORB, GERHARD DR
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 18.06.2003
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

Preparation of an alpha , alpha -disubstituted benzyl cyanide (I) involves reacting an alpha -unsubstituted or alpha -monosubstituted analog (II) with an alkylating agent in presence of a base and a tertiary amine or phosphine. Preparation of an alpha , alpha -disubstituted benzyl cyanide of formula (I) involves reacting an alpha -unsubstituted or alpha -monosubstituted analog of formula (II) (optionally previously dissolved in an organic solvent) with an alkylating agent of formula R1-X (III) or X-CH2CH2-Z-(CH2)n-X (III') in presence of a base and a tertiary amine or phosphine of formula R7-Q(R8)(R9) (IV). R1 = 1-20C alkyl (optionally substituted by 1-3 Q' or phenyl (itself optionally substituted by 1-3 A or Q')) or 2-20C alkenyl (optionally substituted by 1-3 Q' or phenyl (itself optionally substituted by 1-3 A or Q')); R2 = as R1 or phenyl (optionally substituted by 1-3 Q' A); or R1 + R2 = -CH2CH2-Z-(CH2)n-; R3 = phenyl (optionally substituted by 1-3 A or Q'); R4 = H or as R2; A = 1-6C alkyl; Q' = 3-6C cycloalkyl, OH, ACOO, AO, (1-6C) alkoxy-(1-4C) alkoxy, halo, CF3, CN, NO2, COOH, AOCO, OCH2O, NR5R6CO or NR5R6; R5, R6 = H or A; Z = O, S or NR; R = H, A, benzyl or phenyl; n = 1 or 2; X = halo or 1/2 SO4; R7-R9 = 1-30C alkyl or phenyl; Q = N or P.