Process for obtaining nitriles from alpha-ketoacids

摘要

Process for obtaining nitriles from alpha-ketoacids comprises: reacting (II) with hydroxylamine or a reactive derivative of the same in the presence of a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol as solvent and pyridine as catalyst at the reflux temperature of the solvent, with stirring and for a period of time between 14 and 30 hours, to produce an intermediate ketoxime which is not isolated from the reaction medium and which is spontaneously decarboxylated under these conditions to produce the nitrile (I). In the formulas R1 represents an aliphatic or aromatic organic radical. Compounds (I) have wide application as intermediates in the chemical field of organic synthesis. <IMAGE>