Abstract Tolunitriles have been efficiently synthesized by selective ammoxidation of methylbenzyl chlorides prepared with chlorination of xylenes. In comparison with ammoxidation of xylenes themselves, the reaction temperature of ammoxidation of methylbenzyl chlorides has been lowered more than 100° C and the selectivity forming mono-nitriles is almost 100%.
[Oriyama, Takeshi; Iwanami, Katsuyuki; Tsukamoto, Kazuhisa; Ichimura, Yuichi; Koga, Gen Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 1991 , vol. 64, # 4 p. 1410 - 1412]
