Crystal structure of (S)-1-cyano-2-(1′-phenylethyl)-isoindole1

The title compound was obtained in a one-step reaction under Strecker-conditions, starting from the commercially available compounds phthaldialdehyde, (S)-1-phenylethylamine, and sodium cyanide. It crystallizes from ethanol/water monoclinically in the space group P2 1 with a = 1317.2(3), b = 824.4(1), c = 642.4(1) pm and β = 91.77(2)°