to ph 3 after the separation and then extracted with chloroform after concentrating the chloroform the oil residue was fractionated at 0 6 torr 110 6 grams 55 of theory of 4 4 dimethyl 2 phenyl 3 oxopentanenitrile came over at 111 u00b0 c 116 grams 1 mole of methyl pivalate 60 grams 2 moles of sodium hydride 80 weight in white oil and 184 7 grams 1 5 moles of thiophene 3 acetonitrile were reacted as described in examples 8 in 750 ml of dry toluene the reaction time was 24 hours the crystalline crude proudct was distilled for purification there were obtained 109 grams 53 of theory of 4 4 dimethyl 2 3 39 thienyl 3 oxopentanenitrile at a boiling point of 112 u00b0 c 0 4 torr and the product had a melting point of 45 u00b0 47 u00b0 c analysis c 11 h 13 nos 207 3 calculated 63 73 h 6 32 n 6 76 s 15 47 found 63 60 h 6 34 n 6 64 s 14 90 1 h nmr cdcl 3 u03b4 7 4 7 0 m 3h h thiophene 5 33 s 1h ch cn 1 22 ppm s 9h c ch 3 3 137 grams 1 mole of methyl benzoate and 60 grams 2 moles of 80 weight sodium hydride in white oil were heated to.