Synthesis
General procedure for the synthesis of 2-(4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-2-methylpropionitrile using 2-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)propanenitrile as starting material: to a solution of 2-methyl-2-(p-tolyl)propanenitrile (32 g, 0.2 mol) in carbon tetrachloride (300 ml) was added sequentially N-bromosuccinimide (NBS, 40 g, 0.22 mol) and azobisisobutyronitrile ( AIBN, 1.64 g, 0.01 mol). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux for 2 hours. After completion of the reaction, it was cooled to room temperature and filtered to remove insoluble solids. The filtrate was concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure to give the crude product 2-(4-(bromomethyl)phenyl)-2-methylpropanenitrile (33 g, 70% yield) as a yellow oil. Mass spectrometry (MS) data (m/z): 238,240 (M++H).
