Phenyl-2-Propanone from Benzyl Cyanide
alpha-Phenylacetoacetonitrile A solution of sodium ethoxide is prepared from 60 g. (2.6 mol) clean sodium and 700 ml of absolute alcohol (dried over calcium oxide or sodium) in a 2000 ml round-bottomed flask equipped with a reflux condenser. To the hot solution added a mixture of 234g (2 moles) of pure benzyl cyanide 264g (3 moles) of …