Preparation of aromatic nitriles

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a nitrile of formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or phenyl, by reaction of an aldehyde of formula ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above, with hydroxylamine sulfate and subsequent dehydration, which process comprises carrying out the reaction in propionic acid in the presence of a salt of propionic acid by heating to an external temperature in the range from 140.degree. to 165.degree. C., preferably from 150.degree. to 160.degree. C., for 2 to 6 hours, preferably for 3 to 5 hours, under atmospheric pressure, and simultaneously distilling the mixture of propionic acid and water from the system until a solution forms, and thereafter removing the mixture of propionic acid and water at 100.degree.-130.degree. C., preferably 110.degree.-120.degree. C., by vacuum distillation, and then isolating the resultant nitrile by standard procedures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.