PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DICYANONORBORNANE AND ZEROVALENT-NICKEL COMPLEX CATALYST

摘要

A zerovalent-nickel complex catalyst which is produced by using a phosphite represented by P(x)(y)(z) (wherein P is phosphorus and x, y, and z each is OR, where R represents C<SUB>18</SUB> or lower aryl) as a ligand to reduce a nickel halide with at least one metal selected among zinc, cadmium, beryllium, aluminum, iron, and cobalt, wherein the phosphite is one which has a phosphate content of 1.0 wt.% or lower based on the whole phosphite. Also provided is a process for producing dicyanonorbornane characterized by causing hydrogen cyanide to undergo addition reaction with cyanonorbornene (bicyclo[2.2.1]-5-heptene-2-carbonitrile) in the presence of the zerovalent-nickel complex catalyst.