FACILE CONVERSION OF CARBOXAMIDES TO NITRILES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)84487-1

Alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, heteroaryl carboxamides bearing various functionalities are readily converted to the corresponding nitriles in good yields using the liquid "diphosgene", trichloromethyl chloroformate, as dehydrating agent.In many cases, the procedure does not require extraction, and hence offers a very simple work-up.