potassium hydroxide in toluene T=110°C; 1 h;

1: α,α'-azoisobutyronitrile / 12 h / 80 °C 2: CH3CO3H / toluene / 30 °C 3: 84 percent / KOH / toluene / 1 h / 110 °C View Scheme

1: KOH, t-BuOK / toluene / 0.5 h / 60 °C 2: α,α'-azoisobutyronitrile / 12 h / 80 °C 3: CH3CO3H / toluene / 30 °C 4: 84 percent / KOH / toluene / 1 h / 110 °C View Scheme