Nickel (0) phosphonite complex useful in production of organic nitriles

摘要

A catalyst comprises a nickel (0) complex with a mono-, di- or multivalent phosphonite ligand. A catalyst (I) comprises a nickel (0) complex with a mono-, di- or multivalent ligand of formula (1). Independent claims are included for (i) a process for the preparation of (I) by reacting a phosphonite ligand of formula (1) with nickel or a nickel compound in the presence of a reducing agent or with a nickel (0) complex in an inert solvent and (ii) a process for the production of mixture of 5C-mononitriles having non-conjugated C=C and C equivalent to N bonds by catalytic hydrocyanation of butadiene or a 1,3-butadiene containing hydrocarbon mixture in the presence of (I). A = 5-8 membered heterocycle (including a part of the phosphonite group to which it is bonded), optionally fused with 1, 2 or 3 cycloalkyl, aryl and/or heteroaryl that are optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro, cyano or carboxyl; R<1> = alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl, optionally up to tri-substituted with alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, cycloalkyloxy, acyl, aryloxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, nitro, cyano, carboxyl or NE<1>E<2> or -X-O-Y E<1>, E<2> = alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl; X = 3-6C alkylene bridge having 1,2 or 3 double bonds and/or fused with 1-3C aryl and/or hetero that are optionally substituted with alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro, cyano or NE<1>NE<2>; Y = (a) or (b); D = A or salts or mixtures thereof.