Process for producing nitriles

A process for preparing an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile, which comprises subjecting an alkane of 3 to 7 carbon atoms and ammonia in the gaseous state to catalytic oxidation in the presence of a catalyst under a stream of molecular oxygen gas at an elevated vapor phase temperature and at a pressure and for a time sufficient to prepare said .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile,

• said catalyst being obtained by drying an aqueous solution containing compounds of molybdenum, vanadium and tellurium and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, W, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sb, Bi, B and Ce, and calcining the dried product in the absence of oxygen,
• wherein the catalyst is represented by the empirical formula (I):
• Mo.sub.a B.sub.b Te.sub.c X.sub.x O.sub.n (I)
• wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, W, Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ni, Pd, Pt, Sb, Bi, B and Ce, and
• wherein a is 1, b is 0.01 to 1.0, c is 0.01 to 1.0, and x is 0.01 to 1.0, and
• n is a number such that the total valency of the metal elements is satisfied;
• and
• wherein the catalyst has X-ray diffraction peaks at the following angles of 2.theta. in its X-ray diffraction pattern:
• ______________________________________ Diffraction angles of 2.theta. (.degree.) ______________________________________ 22.1 .+-. 0.3 28.2 .+-. 0.3 36.2 .+-. 0.3 45.2 .+-. 0.3 50.0 .+-. 0.3. ______________________________________