VI11 IX methylimine (111) by dehydrohalogenation failed because the required imino chloride XI11 was not stable toward isolation by distillation. Distillation of XI11 gave a 25y0 yield of crude diphenylacetonitrile6 and a 40yo yield of a dimer. Prior to the distillation, the imino chloride was present as indicated by hydrolysis of the crude oil in 60% yield to the starting amide. When the crude imino chloride was treated with triethylamine, the main ...
