We wish to record at this time our experience with this reaction in the cyclopentenyl series. Cyclopentanone condensed readily with phenylacetonitrile in sodium ethylate solution to yield a-cyclopentylidenephenylacetonitrile, 11. When equimolar quantities were used the yield was only 30-40% but was increased to 65% when a fourfold excess of phenylacetonitrile was employed. The presence of a conjugated, semi-cyclic double bond ...
