A solution of sodium amide in liquid ammonia is prepared according to a procedure previously described (Note 1) in a 2-l. three-necked round-bottomed flask fitted with a reflux condenser attached to a soda-lime tower which is connected to a gas absorption trap,² a mercury-sealed mechanical stirrer, and an inlet tube. Anhydrous liquid ammonia (350 ml.) is introduced through the inlet tube, and about 0.3 g. of hydrated ferric nitrate and 13.7 g. (0.59 g. atom) of freshly cut sodium are added (Note 1) and (Note 2).

After the conversion of sodium to sodium amide is complete, the inlet tube is replaced with a 500-ml. dropping funnel and the flask is cooled in a bath of Dry Ice and trichloroethylene. Benzyl cyanide (69 g., 0.59 mole) (Note 3) is added dropwise with stirring during about 20 minutes. The cooling bath is removed, and the solution is stirred for an additional period of 20 minutes, after which 700 ml. of dry ether is added slowly through the dropping funnel. The solution is allowed to stand or is warmed gently with a water bath until it comes to room temperature. The rate of addition of ether and subsequent warming are controlled so that the ammonia which is vaporized passes through the gas absorption trap rather than escaping in part through the mercury seal of the stirrer. When most of the ammonia has been removed, an additional 300-ml. portion of dry ether is added (Note 4). The flask is then heated on a hot water bath. By turning off the cooling water of the reflux condenser for a short time, a small amount of ether is allowed to distil out of the reaction mixture in order to remove as much of the ammonia as possible (Note 5). The condenser water is then turned on again, and dry nitrogen lines under a positive pressure of 2–3 cm. of mercury (maintained by a T-tube dipping into mercury) are attached to the top of the dropping funnel and the reflux condenser. A solution of 200 g. (1.1 moles) of benzophenone (Note 6) and (Note 7) in 300 ml. of dry ether (Note 8) is added through the dropping funnel during a period of 15 minutes, and the mixture is heated under reflux with stirring for 24 hours. At the end of this period the solution contains a reddish brown precipitate. The mixture is allowed to cool, and 250 ml. of water is added slowly through the dropping funnel. The aqueous and ether layers are separated in a 2-l. separatory funnel, and the water layer is filtered directly through a 15-cm. Büchner funnel. The aqueous filtrate is discarded. The ether layer also is run into the funnel, and the filtrate is concentrated to a volume of about 80 ml. The solid that separates is added to the solid previously collected on the filter. The crude reddish brown product is recrystallized from 600 ml. of glacial acetic acid. α,β-Diphenylcinnamonitrile separates as white crystals which are collected on a suction filter, washed with 100 ml. of water, and dried at 110° for 24 hours. The yield of a pure product melting at 166–167° is 83–110 g. (50–66%).