2-Substituted phenylacetonitriles 1 react with 1,1-dihalo-2-phenylcycl
opropanes 2 in the presence of concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide s
olution and benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBA) as a catalyst (phas
e-transfer catalysis, PTC conditions), to afford 1,2-disubstituted cyc
lopropenes 3, with moderate to low yields.