Veratraldoxime(88–89 g, 0.45 mol) was combined with acetic anhydride (100 g) in a 300-mL round-bottomed flask equipped with a ground-glass air condenser, and the mixture was cautiously heated. A vigorous reaction took place, at which point the flame (heating by oil bath; the author) was removed. After the reaction had subsided, the solution was gently refluxed for 2 h and then carefully poured, with stirring, into cold water (300 mL). Stirring was continued, and on cooling the nitrile separated as small, almost colorless crystals; these were collected by filtration and dried in air. The veratronitrile thus obtained was quite pure; yield 57–62 g (72–76%); mp 66–67 C°.
1-Cyanoacenaphthene 1403 can be synthesized from its carbaldoxime by dehydration with acetic anhydride in 87% yield. Whereas acetic anhydride usually serves as the solvent as well as the reactant, this procedure is performed in n-octane.
