GAS-PHASE SYNTHESIS OF NITRILES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00317a020

n-Octanenitrile is obtained in 87 percent yield from the copper-catalyzed, gas-phase reaction of 1-octanol with ammonia at 325 deg C and 1 atm.Similar high yields of alkyl or aryl nitriles are obtained from the reaction of ammonia with primary alcohols, aldehydes, primary amines, secondary amines, and esters.The effect of reaction variables is examined: highest yields of nitriles are obtained when the reaction is carried out at ca. 300 deg C and at ammonia to substrate ratios of greater than 10:1.The 15 percent Cu/Al2O3 case was examined most extensively, but vanadium, iron, and nickel also show selectivity to nitriles while manganese and antimony give only very small amounts of these products.