In connection with the synthesis of new anticonvulsant agents, we required moderate quantities of [p-and m-(trimethylsilyl) phenyl] acetic acids (3a) and (3b), respectively. Both of these acids have been prepared from (trimethylsily1) toluenes la, b by a classical, but circuitous, route involving benzylic bromination, displacement of bromide by cyanide, and hydrolysis of the resulting [(trimethylsilyl) phen: yl] acetonitriles. 2 It occurred to us that ...
