Method for producing 2-cyanoethyl group-containing organic compound

A method for producing a 2-cyanoethyl group-containing organic compound comprising a step of reacting acrylonitrile with a hydroxyl group-containing organic compound in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt as a catalyst through a Michael addition, wherein:

• the hydroxyl group-containing organic compound is selected from the group consisting of starch, pullulan, alkylcelluloses, hydroxylalkylcelluloses, hydroxylalkylalkylcelluloses and polyvinyl alcohols;
• the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, benzyltriethylammonium hydroxide and any combination thereof;
• and
• the quaternary ammonium salt is added in an amount of from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the hydroxyl group-containing organic compound.