Action of Alkali Cyanides on Alkyl Hydrogen Sulphates

Reaction XLVIH. (b) Action of Alkali Cyanides on Alkyl Hydrogen Sulphates. (A., 10, 249.)—The alkyl nitriles may also be prepared by dry distilling alkali cyanides with alkali-alkyl-sulphates. 

50 gms. (excess) of finely powdered (caution ), dry, commercial potassium cyanide and 50 gms. (1 mol.) of finely powdered potassium ethyl sulphate dried at 100° are intimately mixed. An iron tube, closed at one end, is one-third filled with the mixture. The tube is tapped while in a horizontal position to form a channel along the upper surface of the mixture, is placed in a combustion furnace so that the open end projects 3 cms. from the furnace, and connected with a condenser and receiver, all being set up in a fume cupboard. The mixture is then gradually heated, 

A somewhat similar method of cyanide preparation is applicable in the aromatic series aromatic sulphonic acid potassium salts, on fusion with potassium cyanide or potassium ferrocyanide, yield aromatic nitriles. The reaction can be extended to derivatives of pyridine. 

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