CATALYTIC ISOMERIZATION OF 2-METHYL-3-BUTENENITRILE TO LINEAR PENTENENITRILES IN THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN METAL SALT AND/OR TRI(HYDROCARBYL)BORON PROMOTERS

摘要

The present invention discloses the isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to linear pentenenitriles in high yield by means of catalysts which comprise zero-valent nickel complexes promoted by certain metal salt and/or tri(hydrocarbyl)-boron promoters at temperatures in the range 10 DEG -200 DEG C. The linear pentenenitrile product, principally 3-pentenenitrile, is useful as an intermediate to adiponitrile.