Halogenated hydrocarbyl nitriles prepn - by reacting a dihalogenated hydrocarbon with a metal or ammonium cyanide

摘要

4-Halobutyronitrile (where halo is Cl or Br or their mixts.) are prepd. by reacting a water ionisable metal or ammonium cyanide with 1-chloro-3-bromopropane in a molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 (pref. 1:5 to 2:1) in water, in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, the reaction temp. being maintained at 50-100 degrees C. The process eliminates the need of an organic solvent thus reducing they by-product formation and improving the yield of the products. The hydrocarbyl nitriles produced are useful intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals and polymers and also for introducing hydrocarbyl cyanide gps. into cpds. Thus 4-halobutyronitriles can be used in the mfr. of lysine and herbicides.