A New Method for Preparation of Alkylnitriles from Alkyl Halide and Alkylammonium Cyanide.

Reaction of alkyl halides with benzyltrimethylammonium cyanide in water proceeds rapidly and efficiently to result in an improved general method for preparing nitriles. Benzyltrimethylammonium chloride and alkali cyanide can be used instead of benzyltrimethylammonium cyanide. A general procedure is described and many examples are listed. In this reaction, alkali rhodanate can be used in place of alkali cyanide to obtain alkyl rhodanate in a good yield.