Aromatic halide is converted to aromatic nitrile, e.g., p-chlorobenzotrifluoride is converted to 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile, utilizing Ni(Pφ₃)₃ as a catalyst where said catalyst is formed starting with NiCl₂ or NiCl₂·6H₂O where formation of said catalyst starting with NiCl₂ or NiCl₂·6H₂O and conversion of halide to nitrile are carried out in a single reactor vessel. The method comprises the steps of (a) forming catalyst by steps comprising (i) forming essentially dry Ni(Pφ₃)Cl₂ in situ in said reactor vessel starting with NiCl₂ or NiCl₂·6H₂O, (ii) reacting said essentially dry Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂ with Pφ₃ in the presence of a reducing metal in C₂-C₅ alcohol or aprotic polar reaction solvent in said reactor vessel to produce Ni(Pφ₃)₃ catalyst therein, and (b) adding said halide into said reactor vessel to form a complex in C₂-C₅ alcohol or aprotic polar reaction solvent from said halide and said catalyst and adding alkali metal cyanide to convert halogen to CN and thereby produce nitrile. When anhydrous NiCl₂ is a starting material, steps (a)(i) and (a)(ii) are preferably carried out as a single step where anhydrous NiCl₂ and at least three equivalents of Pφ₃ are added to C₂-C₅ alcohol or aprotic polar solvent followed by addition of reducing metal powder and reaction is carried out to convert NiCl₂ to Ni(Pφ₃)₃ with intermediate formation of Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂. When NiCl₂·6H₂O is a starting material, essentially dry Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂ is formed in step (a)(i) by forming an admixture thereof with azeotrope-forming liquid (e.g., anhydrous C₂-C₅ alcohol or aprotic polar solvent or toluene) and heating to distill off water and forming essentially dry NiCl₂ which is converted to essentially dry Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂ or the NiCl₂·6H₂O is reacted with Pφ₃ to form wet Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂ which is dried by forming an azeotropic mixture and distilling to remove water or by heating or the NiCl₂·6H₂O is made essentially dry by heating with or without Pφ₃ present in the absence of reaction solvent to flash off water and form essentially dry NiCl₂ which is reacted with Pφ₃. The preferred C₂-C₅ alcohol is t-butanol which minimizes formation of hydrodehalogenation side-product in step (b) compared to other alcohols. The preferred aprotic polar solvent is acetonitrile.
芳香卤化物可以转化为芳香腈,例如,使用Ni(Pφ₃)₃作为催化剂,p-
氯苯三氟甲烷可以转化为4-(三
氟甲基)苯腈。所述催化剂由NiCl₂或NiCl₂·6H₂O开始形成,其中利用单个反应器容器进行所述催化剂的形成,开始于NiCl₂或NiCl₂·6H₂O,同时进行卤代物到腈的转化。该方法包括以下步骤:(a)通过以下步骤形成催化剂:(i)在反应器容器中开始形成基本干燥的Ni(Pφ₃)Cl₂,开始于NiCl₂或NiCl₂·6H₂O,(ii)在还原
金属和C₂-C₅醇或无极性极性反应溶剂的存在下,在反应器容器中反应所述基本干燥的Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂和Pφ₃,以在其中产生Ni(Pφ₃)₃催化剂,以及(b)将所述卤代物加入所述反应器容器中,以从所述卤代物和所述催化剂中形成C₂-C₅醇或无极性极性反应溶剂的复合物,并添加碱
金属
氰化物以将卤素转化为CN并因此产生腈。当无
水NiCl₂为起始材料时,步骤(a)(i)和(a)(ii)最好作为单个步骤进行,其中将无
水NiCl₂和至少三当量的Pφ₃加入C₂-C₅醇或无极性极性溶剂中,然后加入还原
金属粉末并进行反应,以转化NiCl₂为Ni(Pφ₃)₃,中间形成Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂。当NiCl₂·6H₂O为起始材料时,在步骤(a)(i)中通过将其与共沸液形成的液体(例如,无
水C₂-C₅醇或无极性极性溶剂或
甲苯)混合并加热以蒸馏
水并形成基本干燥的NiCl₂,然后将其转化为基本干燥的Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂,或者通过将NiCl₂·6H₂O与Pφ₃反应形成湿的Ni(Pφ₃)₂Cl₂,然后通过形成共沸混合物并蒸馏去除
水或加热干燥来将其干燥,或者通过在无反应溶剂的情况下加热或不加Pφ₃的情况下加热,使NiCl₂·6H₂O基本干燥并闪蒸
水,形成基本干燥的NiCl₂,然后与Pφ₃反应。首选的C₂-C₅醇是
叔丁醇,与其他醇相比可以最小化步骤(b)中的脱卤反应副产物的形成。首选的无极性极性溶剂是
乙腈。