Repetition of the reaction of sulfonylisoxazoline 8a with 2% Na-HgO in the presence of aqueous phosphate buffer led to formation of a mixture of P-hydroxy nitrile 16, 5 benzyl alcohol, and phenylacetonitrile. One problem encountered here was the destruction of the sodium amalgam by the buffer, necessitating a very large excess and periodic replenishment. Another problem was the critical pH dependence of the results: at a pH> ...
