4-fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)benzonitrile

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

Procedure: To a stirred solution of the above aldehyde (5.0 g, 33.5 mmol) in MeOH (330 mL) cooled to 0° C. was added NaBH4 (1.51 g, 40 mmol) and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour. Standard work-up and purification afforded 4-fluoro-3-hydroxymethyl-benzonitrile (4.9 g, 98%) as an off-white solid. 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ 1.95 (br s, 1H), 4.81 (s, 2H), 7.13-7.19 (m, 1H), 7.60-7.62 (m, 1H), 7.83-7.85 (m, 1H). Standard work-up and purification