Some aroylacetonitriles have been shown to exhibit various biological activities and are valuable precursors for the synthesis of a number of heterocyclic compounds.Aroylacetonitriles have been prepared via S_N2 displacement of halide by cyanide.The use of the literature method for the synthesis of aroylacetonitriles in our laboratory led to results somewhat different from those reported.It was found that addition of an aqueous solution of NaCN or KCN to ethanolic solutions of alpha-chloro- or alpha-bromoacetophenones at room temperature with constant stirring resulted in an exothermic reaction (temperature rises to 40-50degC) and precipitation of a solid in each case.These solids turned out to be different than the expected and known aroylacetonitriles derived from the normal displacement reaction.
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