Azelaic acid diamide

A/.clani(rile has been prepared in 80% yield by treating 1,7 dibromoheptane with potassium cyanide 6 by treating 1,7-di-lodolirplanc witli potassium cyanide 7 from azelaic acid through lli intermediate acid chloride and diamide 8 in 60-70% yield by the dehydration of the diamide of azelaic acid 9 and by the... 

Benzonitrile also can be prepared by this method in comparable yields, but a longer reaction time (7 hours) is required. The method was found to be unsatisfactory for the preparation of the nitriles of azelaic and phthalic acids from the corresponding diamides. 

---