(4)-Chloro- and/or bromo-butyronitrile prodn. - from chloro-bromo-propane and ionisable cyanide in water contg. phase transfer catalyst

摘要

Prodn. of 4-chlorobutyronitrile (Ia) and/or 4-bromobutyronitrile (Ib) involves reacting a water-ionisable metal or ammonium cyanide (II) with 1-chloro-3-bromo-propane (III) in a (III)/(II) molar ratio of 1-2:1 (1.5-2:1), using water as the reaction medium and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst (IV), at 50-100 degrees C. Pref. (II) is an alkali metal cyanide, esp. NACn. (IV) is a quat. ammonium or phosphonium cpd., pref. a quat. ammonium halide, esp. cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (IVa). Reaction is pref. at 70-75 degrees C. The aq. layer of the reaction mixt. is pref. washed with a metal chloride soln. before removal of (I). (I) are intermediates for the prodn. of pharmaceutical and photographic chemicals and polymers. No organic solvent is needed and the (I) yield is improved.