The Preparation of m-Hydroxybenzonitrile

It has been a general project in this laboratory to prepare the three monohydroxy diphenyl ketimines upon which certain studies have been planned. Last year the preparation of the 2-hydroxy and 4-hydroxy diphenyl ketimines were reported in these Proceedings. The present work has been directed toward the 3-hydroxy diphenyl ketimine. The former pair of ketimines were obtained by the action of the Grignard reagent, magnesium phenyl bromide, upon the corresponding hydroxybenzonitriles. To employ this same synthesis for the 3- or m-hydroxy diphenyl ketimine it has been necessary to prepare the appropriate hydroxybenzonitrile. Much greater difficulty has arisen in the preparation of this last nitrile than with the other two