2-(1-(ethylsulfonyl)azetidin-3-ylidene)acetonitrile is synthesized by
first treating azetidine-3-ol hydrochloride with an equimolar
equivalent of an alkanesulfonyl chloride, preferably ethanesulfonyl
chloride, to give l-ethylsulfonylazetidin-3-ol. Preferably, the
reaction is performed in a biphasic solution comprising a mixture of an
organic phase and a aqueous phase, preferably THF with an aqueous
solution which is basic, while maintaining the solution at room
temperature or a temperature slightly below room temperature, preferably
20 °C. The reaction is followed to completion using standard monitoring
techniques. Typically, the reaction is complete within 1 to 5 hours.
The organic layer is removed, preferably by distillation, and the
aqueous layer is extracted with an appropriate solvent such as toluene,
p-cymene, and CPME. Preferably the extraction solvent is toluene.
Alternatively, the toluene extractions can be excluded if
recrystallization of 2-(1-(ethylsulfonyl)azetidin-3-ylidene)acetonitrile is performed.
