Phosphoric Acid → 1,4-Dicyanobenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

650 g (6.0 mol) of a mixture of dinitriles (85% MGN, 12% ESN, 3% AdN by weight) which are by-products of adiponitrile synthesis are introduced into a 2000-ml reactor. 167 g of terephthalic acid (1.0 mol) are added to this heterogeneous medium, followed by 5 g of 85% orthophosphoric acid. The reaction medium is heated at the reflux of the dinitriles and these conditions are maintained for 5 h. Respective yields of imide mixture and of 1,4-dicyanobenzene of 96% and 95% are obtained by GC analysis.

Provenance & Evidence