A solution of 11.5 g. (0.5 g. atom) of sodium is prepared in 150 ml. of absolute ethanol (Note 1) in a 500-ml. three-necked flask equipped with a stirrer, a condenser, and a dropping funnel. While this solution is refluxing with stirring, a mixture of 37.8 g. (0.25 mole) of 4-chlorophenylacetonitrile and 50.8 g. (0.31 mole) of ethyl phenylacetate is added through the dropping funnel over a period of 1 hour. The solution is refluxed for 3 hours, cooled, and poured into 600 ml. of cold water. The aqueous alkaline mixture is extracted three times with 200-ml. portions of ether and the ether extracts discarded. The aqueous solution is acidified with cold 10% hydrochloric acid and extracted three times with 200-ml. portions of ether. The ether solution is then extracted once with 100 ml. of water, twice with 100 ml. each of 10% sodium bicarbonate solution, and once with 100 ml. of water, the aqueous extracts being discarded in turn. The organic phase is dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered through a fluted filter, and the ether removed by distillation. The yield of α-(4-chlorophenyl)-γ-phenylacetoacetonitrile is 58–62 g. (86–92%), m.p. 128.5–130.0°. For many purposes, this crude product may be used without further purification. If a purer product is desired, however, it may be recrystallized from methanol or aqueous methanol (Note 2) to yield 50–55 g. (74–82%), m.p. 131.0–131.2° (Note 3).