849. ------. [GRESHAM, W. F.] (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Conversion of Saturated Aliphatic Carboxylic Amides to Nitriles. United States Patent 2,439,426. Apr. 13, 1948. Chem. Abs., vol. 42. 1948. p. 6841.

Patent Abstracts

Saturated aliphatic amides are dehydrated to nitriles in the presence of a catalyst, which simultaneously converts CO and H₂O to H₂ and CO₂. The yield is improved because the endothermic heat of dehydration is partly compensated by the exothermic heat of conversion. Preferred catalysts are chromites of Fe, Ni, or Mn. The preferred amide: CO+H₂O ratio is 1:4 to 1:20 and the preferred CO:H₂O ratio is 2:1 to 1:2. The reactants are passed over the catalyst at 320º-450º. In an example EtCN was prepared from EtCOHN₂ in 90.9% yield. In addition 3.2% Et₂CO was obtained.