Synthesis of α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile. Anomalous reactions of α-tosyloxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile with sodium borohydride

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-1139(96)03433-1

The hitherto unknown α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile has been synthesized by reduction of the cyanohydrin of α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenone.Sodium borohydride reduction of the corresponding cyanohydrin tosylate resulted in reductive decyanation in dimethyl sulphoxide and in reduction of the nitrile group in t-butanol. - Keywords: Synthesis; α-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile; Anomalous reactions; Sodium borohydride; NMR spectroscopy; IR spectroscopy, Mass spectrometry