(I) 2-(p-Cyanoethyl)-2-ethylbutyraldehyde.-To a stirred solution of 700 g. of freshly distilled 2- ethylbutyraldehyde (7 moles) and 20 g. of aqueous 50% potassium hydroxide solution, there was added dropwise 408 g. of acrylonitrile (7.7 moles) during the course of two hours while maintaining the reaction temperature at 55-58 O by occasional cooling. After all had been added, the mixture was stirred for an additional ninety minutes until the exothermal ...
