High-temperature transnitrilation of 2-bromocaproic acid

Chromato-mass spectrometry and IR and PMR spectroscopy were used to study the high-temperature reaction of 2-bromocaproic, 2-iodocaproic, and 2-bromo-2-phenylacetic acids with acetonitrile. The formation of anomalous transnitrilation products (capronitrile and benzyl cyanide) is a consequence of the initial conversion of 2-halo-substituted caproic and phenylacetic acids to caproic and phenylacetic acids, respectively.