Organic nitriles prepn. from olefins and hydrogen cyanide - in the presence of catalytic amts. of cuprous salt and a sulphide or thiol

摘要

Organic nitriles are produced by reacting an olefin with HCN in the presence of a catalytic amt. of a cuprous salt and a sulphide or thiol. The process is used to monohydrocyanate butadiene to 3-pentenenitrile with good conversions of butadiene and good yields of the nitrile. Some bis-hydrocyanation also occurs with formation of adiponitrile. 3-Pentenenitrile undergoes a novel reaction with HCN in the presence of a catalyst, to form adiponitrile (a valuable intermediate in polyamide production).