Process for producing a nitrile using a catalyst containing antimony and iron

摘要

A compound of the formula SbxFe1Oy (I) in which x varies from 0.4 to 1 inclusive and y varies from 1.6 to 4 inclusive, may be used as a catalyst for catalyzing the ammoxidation reaction of an alcohol of following formula (II) CH2═C(R1)—CH2—OH (II) in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, to give nitrile of following formula (III) CH2═C(R1)—C≡N (III) in which R1 has the same meaning as in above formula (II), the said reaction being carried out in the gas phase, the said gas phase comprising at least oxygen and ammonia. The present invention also relates to the process for the ammoxidation of an alcohol of formula (II) employing a compound of formula (I) as catalyst.