Ethyl 3 benzyl-2-cyano 3 methylPENTANOATE

B. Ethyl 3-benzyl-2-cyano-3-methylpentanoate. A 2-1. threenecked round-bottomed flask, fitted with a tantalum wire Hersh-berg stirrer, a condenser, and a separatory funnel, is arranged for use of a nitrogen atmosphere.2 Magnesium (19.2 g., 0.79 g.-atom) and 100 ml. of dry ether 3 are placed in the flask, and a solution of 100 g. (91 ml., 0.79 mole) of benzyl chloride in 500 ml. of dry ether is added in a period of 1.5-2.0 hours, with stirring, while the mixture boils spontaneously. The mixture is koiled for 15 minutes after completion of the addition, then a solution of 110 g. (0.66 mole) of ethyl sec-butylidenecyanoacetate in 130 ml. of benzene is added over a 30-minute period with spontaneous reflux. The reaction mixture is stirred and heated under rellux for an additional hour. A precipitate separates after about 30 minutes. 

The ethyl 3-benzyl-2-cyano-3-methylpentanoate, 3-benzyl-3-methylpentanenitrile, and 3-benzyl-3-methylpentanoic acid preparations follow the procedure given by Prout, Huang, Hartman, and Korpics.9... 

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