Imenes derived from methylsulphonyl‐acetonitrile: (Properties of the sulphonyl group XLIII)

Abstract

Abstract When reacting diazomethane on nitriles of the type RSO 2 ‐CHXCN, where X is a negative group, methylation on the nitrogen atom often occurs. In the case of bis‐methylsulphonyl‐acetonitrile, the N‐methyl derivative is formed exclusively: (CH 3 SO 2 ) 2 CCNCH 3 . The less acidic methylsulphoxyl‐methylsulphonyl‐acetonitrile forms only the C‐methyl derivative: (CH 3 SO)(CH 3 SO 2 )C(CH 3 )CN.