4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylbenzonitrile

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

Procedure: Lithium borohydride (33 mg, 1.54 mmol) was added into a solution of methyl 4-cyano-3-methylbenzoate (245 mg, 1.40 mmol) in THF (3 mL) and the resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (4×20 mL). The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, petrol ether/EtOAc) to give the title compound as a colorless gum (195 mg, 95%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.58 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.33 (1H, s), 7.26 (1H, m), 4.74 (2H, s), 2.55 (3H, s), 1.95 (1H, s). LC/MS (Method A): 144 (M+H)+. HPLC (Method F) Rt 3.95 min (Purity: 95.3%). extracted with EtOAc (4×20 mL) The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) concentrated under vacuum The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, petrol ether/EtOAc)

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

Procedure: Lithium borohydride (33 mg, 1.54 mmol) was added into a solution of methyl 4-cyano-3-methylbenzoate (245 mg, 1.40 mmol) in THF (3 mL) and the resulting mixture was stirred at RT for 4 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (4×20 mL). The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, petrol ether/EtOAc) to give the title compound as a colorless gum (195 mg, 95%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 7.58 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.33 (1H, s), 7.26 (1H, m), 4.74 (2H, s), 2.55 (3H, s), 1.95 (1H, s). LC/MS (Method A): 144 (M+H)+. HPLC (Method F) Rt 3.95 min (Purity: 95.3%). extracted with EtOAc (4×20 mL) The combined organic fractions were dried (MgSO4) concentrated under vacuum The residue was purified by flash chromatography (silica, petrol ether/EtOAc)