Method for producing nitriles by elimination of water from aldehyde oximes with alkylphosphonic anhydrides

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing the nitrites of formula: R1—CN by reacting aldehyde oximes (R1CN═N—OH) with cyclic alkylphosphonic anhydrides at a temperature ranging from −100 to +120° C., wherein R1 represents H, a linear or branched C1-C12 alkyl group, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl, alkenyl or an aryl or heteroaryl group. The cyclic phosphonic anhydride preferably used is a 2,4,6-substituted 1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphinane-2,4,6-trioxide of formula (I), wherein R′ independently represents allyl, aryl or open-chain or branched C1 to C12 alkyl groups. Optionally, the reaction can be carried out in the presence of a tertiary amine base NR23

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.