Formation of Acyl Nitriles

Nucleophilic displacement may be effected at sp as well as at saturated carbon, although in the former case, the reaction is probably an addition-elimination sequence. Benzoyl chloride, for example, reacts with sodium cyanide under liquid-liquid phase transfer conditions to yield benzoyl cyanide according to equation 7.4 [16]. Several examples of this reaction are given in Table 7.2. The preparation of aroyl cyanides 

Acyl halide Yield of aroyl cyanide Yield of dimer 

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