GB1200970A - Process for producing benzyl cyanides and their homologues - Google Patents

Abstract

1,200,970. Benzyl cyanides and homologues thereof. FARBENFABRIKEN BAYER A.G. 24 Sept., 1968 [21 Oct., 1967; 29 May, 1968], No. 45219/68. Heading C2C. The invention relates to a process for the production of benzyl cyanides and homologues thereof which comprises reacting an aralkyl halide of a general formula wherein m represents 1 or 2, y represents an integer from 1 to 4, X represents halogen, and A represents hydrogen, phenyl, alkyl, alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyl, cycloalkyl or halogen; or may represent two adjacent radicals which together form an anellated carbocyclic 6-membered ring, optionally in solution in an inert solvent immiscible with water, at a temperature from 70‹ to 150‹ C., with an aqueous alkali-metal cyanide solution or suspension in the presence of 0À001 to 5 mol. per cent of an amino compound of the formula wherein R<SP>1</SP>, R<SP>2</SP> and R<SP>3</SP>, which may be the same or different, each represents hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl or cycloalkyl: or two of the aforementioned radicals, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, may form a 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring which, in the case of a 6-membered ring, may contain sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen as an additional hetero atom, R<SP>4</SP> represents hydrogen or alkyl, X represents halogen or HSO 4 or, where R<SP>4</SP> represents hydrogen, may represent the anion of an aliphatic carboxylic acid with up to 18 carbon atoms, and n represents 0 or 1. In an example of the production of benzyl cyanide aqueous sodium cyanide is boiled with amine catalyst and benzyl chloride added dropwise. The amine catalyst is one of methyl, dimethyl, diethyl, triethyl, N,N<SP>1</SP>-dimethyl benzyl, dodecyl dimethyl-tetradecyl dimethyl amine or tetradecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.