Preparation of nitriles from formamides

US4419297A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Arlt · Cologne, DE
• Gerhard Klein · Monheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 20, 1982
• Grant date: Dec 6, 1983
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C253/20
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Aliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic nitriles of the formula R--CN are obtained by reacting N-substituted formamides of the formula R--NHCHO with at least the stoichiometric quantity of an acylating agent (generally a carboxylic acid anhydride, such as acetic anhydride, or ketene) in the gas phase at temperatures above 250.degree. C., without using a catalyst. The process is especially useful in the preparation of nitriles wherein the connecting carbon of R is a tertiary carbon atom. The nitriles are important intermediate products, for example for the preparation of herbicides, surface-active agents and anti-corrosive agents.