2-(4-chloro-2,6-difluorophenyl)acetonitrile

Conditions: temp:0.00; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: Step B In a manner similar to the method described in Example 1b, (4-chloro-2,6-difluoro-phenyl)-acetonitrile (1.1 g, 6 mmol) was reacted with 2-fluoro-3-chlorobenzaldehyde (1.2 g, 7 mmol), methanolic solution (25 wt %) of sodium methoxide (1.5 mL, 7 mmol) in methanol (40 mL) at 50° C. for 3 h to give (Z)-2-(4-chloro-2,6-difluoro-phenyl)-3-(3-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl)-acrylonitrile as a white solid (1.5 g, 75%).

Conditions: temp:100.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: Step A To the solution of 4-chloro-2,6-difluorobenzyl bromide (Alfa) (2.5 g, 10 mmol) in ethanol (13 mL) and H2O (10 mL) was added KCN (1.75 g, 27 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated at 100° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was separated, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution, brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated. The residue was purified by chromatography (EtOAc:hexanes=1:4) to give (4-chloro-2,6-difluoro-phenyl)-acetonitrile as a yellow oil (1.1 g, 57%). The mixture was cooled extracted with ethyl acetate The organic layer was separated washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3 solution, brine dried over MgSO4 concentrated The residue was purified by chromatography (EtOAc:hexanes=1:4)