One pot synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride using sodium sulphate (anhyd) and sodium bicarbonate in dry media under microwave irradiation

General Papers ARKIVOC 2006 (ii) 41-44 Table 1. One pot synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride using sodium sulphate (anhyd) and sodium bicarbonate at 560 W Entry Product Na2SO4 (anhyd) NaHCO3 Isolated yield (%) Time (min.) Isolated yield (%) Time (min.) 1. 3,4-Dimethoxy benzonitrile 85 4.5 93 3.0 2. 4-Methoxy benzonitrile 92 3.5 95 1.5 3. 2-Hydroxy benzonitrile 90 3.5 90 1.5 4. 4-Hydroxy benzonitrile 89 4.0 90 1.5 5. 4-Nitro benzonitrile 86 2.0 94 1.5 6. 3-4-5, trimethoxy benzonitrile 89 3.0 90 2.5 7. Trans-cinnamonitrile 90 2.0 91 2.0 8. Quinoline-2-carbonitrile 89 2.0 91 1.5 9. 2-Ethyl-4-cyano pyridine 90 3.0 93 2.5 10. Octane nitrile 90 3.0 90 2.5 In summary, we have demonstrated the use of the inexpensive, easy to handle and environmentally benign sodium sulphate (anhyd) and sodium bicarbonate in rapid one pot synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride in high yields. Experimental section General Procedures. Melting points were determined in open capillaries on an electrically heated metal block and are uncorrected. 1H NMR (CDCl3) spectra were recorded on a Jeol FX90Q instrument using TMS as an internal standard. IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin- Elmer 782 spectrophotometer. TLC was carried out on silica gel G plates with a benzene/ethyl acetate (4:1) system. ISSN 1424-6376 Page 43 ©ARKAT