In a 3-l. three-necked round-bottomed flask equipped with glass joints are placed 200 g. (1.71 moles) of benzyl cyanide (Note 1) and 800 ml. of 35% hydrochloric acid (Note 2). The flask is fitted with a reflux condenser, a thermometer, and an efficient mechanical stirrer (Note 3). At a bath temperature of about 40° (Note 4) the mixture is stirred vigorously. Within a period of 20–40 minutes the benzyl cyanide goes into solution (Note 3). During this time, the temperature of the reaction mixture rises about 10° above that of the bath. The homogeneous solution is kept in the bath with, or without, stirring for an additional 20–30 minutes (Note 5). The warm water in the bath is replaced by tap water at about 15–20°, and the thermometer is replaced by a dropping funnel from which 800 ml. of cold distilled water is added with stirring (Note 6). After the addition of about 100–150 ml., crystals begin to separate. When the total amount of water has been added, the mixture is cooled externally with ice water for about 30 minutes (Note 7). The cooled mixture is filtered by suction. Crude phenylacetamide remains on the filter and is washed with two 100-ml. portions of water. The crystals are then dried at 50–80°. The yield of crude phenylacetamide is 190–200 g. (82–86%). It is sufficiently pure for most purposes although it contains traces of phenylacetic acid. If pure phenylacetamide is desired, the crude, wet solid is stirred for about 30 minutes with 500 ml. of a 10% solution of sodium carbonate, collected on a suction funnel, washed with two 100-ml. portions of cold water, and dried. The yield of this product is 180–190 g. (78–82%); m.p. 154–155° (Note 8) and (Note 9).