2,6-difluoro-4-(2-oxoethyl)benzonitrile

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

Procedure: A solution of 2,6-difluoro-4-(2-oxoethyl)benzonitrile (185 mg, 1.0 mmol), 1-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]piperazine (200 mg, 0.85 mmol) and NaBH(OAc)3 (720 mg, 3.4 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (10 mL) was stirred at ambient temperature overnight. The reaction was completed according to TLC. The reaction mixture was added 20 mL of DCM, washed with brine, separated the organic layer, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC to give the product. 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 8.15˜8.17 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 7.37˜7.39 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.92˜6.94 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 2.50˜3.11 (m, 16H). MS m/z: 401 (M+1)+. (0.16 μM) washed with brine separated the organic layer dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate concentrated The residue was purified by preparative TLC to give the product

Conditions: temp:0.01; pressure:0.00; stir:; See reaction.notes.procedure_details.

Procedure: A solution of 4-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,6-difluorobenzonitrile (500 mg, 2.4 mmol) in 10 mL of methanol and 3 mL of water was cooled to 0° C. by ice bath, then NaIO4 (754 mg, 3.5 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for two hours. The reaction was monitored according to TLC. The mixture was filtered and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in DCM, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then purified by flash column chromatography to give 2,6-difluoro-4-(2-oxoethyl)benzonitrile. MS m/z: 182 (M+1)+. The mixture was filtered concentrated The residue was dissolved in DCM dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate purified by flash column chromatography