Nitrile Synthesis through Catalyzed Cascades Involving Acid–Nitrile Exchange

Abstract

Irreversible acid–nitrile exchange reactions using both glutaronitrile and (phenylsulfonyl)acetonitrile may be catalyzed by Lewis acids. Whereas a cyclization towards imides displaces the equilibria in the reaction with dinitriles, a decarboxylation step is involved when using the (phenylsulfonyl)acetonitrile.

Key words

acylation - carboxylic acids - nitriles - imides - Lewis acids­

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