Process for preparing nitriles by elimination reactions

Abstract

Process for preparing nitriles by reacting N-alkylcarboxamides (RCO—NHR1) or ammonium salts of carboxylic acids (RCOO—NH3R1+) or carboxylic acids in the presence of alkylamines or ammonium salts (RCOOH+NH2R1, RCOOH+NH3R1+), respectively, R being an arbitrarily substituted linear or branched C1-C12-alkyl radical, a C3-C12 cycloalkyl radical or an alkenyl, alkynyl or aryl or heteroaryl radical and R1 being an arbitrary substituted, linear or branched C2-C1 alkyl radical, a C3-C12 cycloalkyl radical or an alkenyl or alkynyl radical, with phosphonic anhydrides in the presence of an optional base in an organic solvent at a temperature in the range from −30 to 180° C. In advantageous embodiments, the phosphonic anhydride is a 2,4,6-substituted 1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide of the formula (I)

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.