Interconversion of unsaturated C4 nitriles under basic conditions II. Catalytic and FTIR study over basic zeolites Original Research Article

A study was made of the interconversion of isomeric unsaturated C4 nitriles (allyl cyanide, crotononitrile and methacrylonitrile) over strongly basic NaNaY, and for comparison on neutral NaY and acidic CaY catalysts at 623 K. Pulse experiments indicated the facile transformation of allyl cyanide to crotononitrile and the low reactivities of crotononitrile and methacrylonitrile. FTIR studies of the adsorbed molecules revealed the possible involvement of anionic intermediates.